| All successful companies and individuals have a Plan. | | | | to work in regardless if their company has a job |
| The Plan is your road map to get you to your | | | | opening or not. This will serve you well as you begin |
| destination. There are books written and courses | | | | your new career. |
| taught, but they all have the same goal in common. | | | | Resume writing is important as this document |
| Accomplishing your goal or task is very dependent in | | | | represents you to the prospective employer. In your |
| laying out a strategic Plan to get you there. As we | | | | absence it tells the employer who you are and what |
| begin a new decade let's also look at 2010 as a new | | | | you have to offer the company. Needless to say |
| beginning to a new career or an improved career for | | | | how important it is to use spell check and grammar |
| you. As you look at the steps below understand that | | | | check. It should be job specific as well as informing |
| just like foot prints your business plan should be | | | | the employer what you can offer the company. |
| unique to you but the elements should be the same. | | | | Companies will not fill in the blanks for you so please |
| Organize your thoughts and career aspirations in | | | | be specific with your resume objectives. If your |
| writing. This allows you to capture your thoughts and | | | | resume simply states that you would like to "apply |
| ideas in a document for on-going monitoring and for | | | | your education to a new career", it doesn't tell me |
| future referencing. As you capture your thoughts | | | | much as an employer. On the other hand if it reads |
| please make sure they are realistic and attainable. | | | | "interested in applying my electrical engineering |
| Build into your plan the occasional setbacks which can | | | | experience in helping Acme Inc. on future structural |
| happen. Remain resolved to stick to your new career | | | | design projects". As an employer I can envision you |
| plan. Finding a new career opportunity is a full time | | | | working for us and in what capacity we can utilize |
| job as it requires the same level of commitment. | | | | your talents. Just "looking for a job" won't cut it in |
| Approach each day by looking at your plan and | | | | today's extremely competitive job market. |
| making sure you are following it the way it was | | | | You should begin Networking (Linkedin, Facebook, |
| outlined. | | | | Twitter etc) as well as meeting with other |
| What industry are you interested in and do you | | | | professionals in your city. Finding a great job and new |
| possess the skills to be successful in this industry or | | | | career is a marathon and not a sprint so please |
| job? Many of my readers know that I put a lot of | | | | understand that it will take time. Your neighbors, |
| emphasis on following your passion. If you are | | | | family members, club members should be |
| following your passion you will have a very enjoyable | | | | knowledgeable of your search efforts. This support |
| and rewarding career. Look at new career | | | | system is very important as you explore the many |
| opportunities that are poised for sustained growth | | | | opportunities that will start to develop in the coming |
| (Education, Health care, Government etc.). It appears | | | | weeks. |
| that every 20 years or so the economy tends to | | | | Just as it is questionable to run a race without |
| have a downturn. Be prepared for this uncertainty | | | | knowledge of a finish line; it is equally questionable to |
| with a solid career that offers more security and | | | | explore a new career opportunity without a Plan. |
| growth. Identify a Mentor in the industry you want | | | | |