Keys to Successful Career

Stay Current

Develop Professional Contacts

Develop Specialties

Individuals need to stay current, develop specialties and be alert to organizational changes and opportunities if they want to remain winners in today's job market

1. Stay Current
   1. Successful professionals must keep improving themselves in their profession.
   2. They must learn how computer technology is being used.
   3. They should read trade journals and attend trade seminars and conferences.
        
2. Maintain Your Computer Competence
   1. Read books, journals, and join associations specific to your trade.
   2. Broaden basic computer knowledge by reading computer magazines and newspapers.
   3. Examples: PC World, InfoWorld, and MacWorld.
         
3. Develop Professional Contacts
   1. Maintaining contact with others in your field.
   2. Learn what other firms are doing and what tasks are being automated.
   3. Learn about possibly new job opportunities.
        
4. Develop Specialties
   1. Master a trade or two within your profession.
   2. Try not to become identified with a specific technological skill that might become obsolete.
   3. Look for ways to adapt and improve your skills so you become more marketable.
         
5. Be Alert for Organizational Change
   1. Be aware of what is going on in your organization.
   2. Be alert to new trends within the organization that may affect future hiring, layoffs, automation, mergers with other companies, etc.
   3. Example:  which areas are receiving the greatest attention from top management.
         
6. Look for Innovative Opportunities
   1. Look for ways to make your job more efficient and productive for the organization.
   2. Discuss your ideas with your supervisor.
   3. Realize that organizations are usually receptive to ideas that can save them money or time.

<  Previous Page                                         Next Page >