Vacation from the Career

I'm taking a much needed vacation and will be leaving for Disney World tomorrow morning. My blog will resume in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, find a way to squeeze in some time for relaxing and de-stressing. We all need that if we are to keep productivity high at work.

Enjoy the last days of summer!

Succeed in Your Career Despite the Economy

Another round of dismal employment news was released yesterday. To succeed in your career in this economy, you must constantly improve yourself and remain in good standing with your company.

• Establish your goals for advancement
• Learn what you need to do to reach those goals
• Develop and implement a plan of action
• Persist with an optimistic purpose and clear sense of direction
• Commit the time and effort necessary to reach your goals

Get a clear picture in your mind of what success means to you and then work toward it.

Hold Onto Your Job

Today's news on the economy is once again bleak. It is more important than ever to keep the job you have. One of the best ways to do that is to provide excellent customer service. Another is to do everything you can to make your boss's job easier.

Here are some other ways to help yourself and others through tough economic times:

• Always speak kindly to everyone every day.
• If there is something special you can do for your customers, do it.
• Spread words of encouragement and appreciation.
• Treat people fairly and never take advantage of them.
• If you must offer criticism, find something positive to say first.

The way you walk your career path is especially important in this economic climate.

Marketable Skills Equal Career Success

One way of increasing your chances of keeping your job and advancing in this tough economy is to remain marketable by keeping skills fresh. Skill maintenance is an ongoing process, especially with changing and evolving technology, new research and development, and modernized equipment. Ever-changing job descriptions, assignments, procedures, and the like affect what and how much you need to know and how well you perform.

Some competencies that are always in demand include:

• Computer Equipment and Software
• Marketing
• Sales
• Customer Service
• Oral and Written Communications

To determine the best way for you to update:

• Review your job description and verify core competencies and skills you need
• Assess your competency in these areas
• Ask your supervisor if he/she feels there are competencies you need to acquire
• Ask the HR director or company trainer if there are skills/competencies you should acquire

After you have determined the skills/competencies you need, decide how you will obtain the training and the date by which you will begin training.

Summer Fun and Career Success

During the summer it's easy to get in the fun-in-the sun mode and or take a vacation at work. Guard against slacking at work if you hope to achieve career success.

• While on the job, do your work and give it your all.
• Complete assigned tasks with efficiency, accuracy, and expediency.
• Keep interruptions you can control to a minimum.
• Avoid complaining and complainers.
• Periodically assess yourself and how well you complete your tasks. Determine if you need to increase productivity.
• Track where your time is spent and use time management techniques.
• Observe others who do similar jobs, and compare your productivity to theirs.

There will be days you may feel tired, irritable, or bored. Professionals move past these feelings to continue performing at top-notch levels.

Be Dependable for a Career You can Depend On

As summer continues, so does our work life. Be dependable and show up for work every day. Repeatedly missing work and letting the boss down may result in the loss of your job. In today's job market, that can be devastating.

Show your dependability by not leaving a string of unfinished tasks, broken promises, and unacceptable work. Build a reputation as someone who can be counted on to keep his word.

• If you say you will do something, do it.
• If you have a deadline, meet it.
• If you make a promise, keep it.
• Make sure you know what is expected of you so you know if you can do it.
• Be someone supervisors can approach with an important, demanding task.
• Put your best into each and every job you do.
• Whenever you finish a job, follow-up

Enjoy the summer, but meet your responsibilities.

Happy Fourth--Happy Freedom

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July. Remember all the freedoms this country has to offer.

Speaking of freedoms, this might be a good time to think about the freedom to:

• Choose an attitude that will best serve you
• Consider the type of job where you will most enjoy working
• Set the goals you would like to pursue
• Aspire to loftier career heights.

God Bless America!