The idea for Professionally Suited came to me one day a few years ago when mentoring some employees. In the discussions, it dawned on me that we are taught technically how to do our jobs, but very little about managing our careers or about non-technical skills and traits we might need.
Early in our careers we learn that we need technical credentials to get a job or get a promotion in our current job. These include certain types of degrees, specific training, certifications, and licenses, to name a few. An engineer is taught the math and science needed to be an engineer, but few colleges teach positive habits, or how to interact with others as part of the curriculum. For those student who are taught, the tips and tools are often forgotten shortly after graduation.
We all have different ideas of success in our career field. One person may aspire to be the CEO of a major corporation, while another wants to excel as a subject matter expert in their technical field. Still another may be entering the work force fresh from college or may be someone nearing retirement and implementing a succession plan. Whatever your goals or the stage of your career, there are some common elements that can help you to be professionally suited to achieve career success.
Being Professionally Suited is not any one thing, but a balanced, total package of habits, skills or traits, and a career plan. They vary between industries and among companies within an industry. We have narrowed these elements into three categories which we will discuss in detail in future blogs. These categories are Habits, Interpersonal Skills and Career Planning.
Habits
Often, we wonder what it takes to be successful. By studying others who have been successful, particularly in our field, we can identify habits that has aided their success. Several studies have identified positive habits commonly practiced by highly successful people. Among the habits are reading, continual learning, exercise, journaling, or meditation. Another core habit is rising early and spending this quiet time to get a jump on the day.
Several books and articles have been written about the habits commonly practiced among successful people. In future blogs, we will talk a deeper look at some of these writings.
Interpersonal Skills
Often cited as positive habits are what we call Interpersonal Skills. Also known as Soft Skills, interpersonal skills is a broad category and includes leadership, communication, team work, attitude, and initiative, to name a few. Some people seem to be born with exceptional soft skills, but these can be learned if one is willing to work at it.
At one time interpersonal skills were the silent job requirements that few people knew about. Employers are realizing the value of employees with strong interpersonal skills. These employees are usually their top performers. Some companies now list their most desired interpersonal skills on job announcements.
We will post a holistic blog with an overview of interpersonal skills, then take each one as a separate topic in future blogs.
Career Planning
You’ve probably heard the paraphrased quote from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there”. Many people go through their careers without knowing where they are going. Though many companies require employees to complete some type of employee performance plan, few employees or managers give it a lot of thought. Many feel it is just something to be done with not enough time to do it. They wait until the last minutes and “throw it together”.
For the employees that do spend time on it, they expect their supervisors to take it seriously. Thinking they have done their part, these employees often leave the management of their career to their supervisors. The result, in either case, is that few people truly have a career plan.
A good career plan is a living document. It should be based on SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-oriented). As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” To increase your chances of achieving your goals, they should be transformed into a written career plan that covers at least one, three and five years.
Our lives change, sometimes unexpectedly. What was important to us when we were 25 and single, may seem trivial when we are married with three kids, or sixty and nearing retirement. Things like saving for children’s college, having time to attend our kids’ sporting events, divorce, or taking care of parents can change our priorities.
Just because you made a 5-year career plan does not mean you are stuck with it for five years. It’s your plan and should be revised as often as you need. Therefore, our career plans need to be reviewed and updated regularly, at least annually. Future blogs will look at the steps in career planning and provide you with some guidelines to develop your career plan.
Our goal at Professionally Suited is to provide you with information about habits you can learn to make you more successful in all aspects of your life. We will introduce you to the interpersonal skills employers desire most in their employees. These can be incorporated into your career plan as you identify what you want most in your career and what you need to do to achieve your goals.
Remember, it’s your career. You are responsible for managing it. We would like to help by providing you with useful information.
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