Category Archives: Career Tips & Strategies

Professional Associations: Triple Benefits for You

Recently,  I had the opportunity to be the keynote speaker for the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) annual membership dinner.  It was held at IGT here in Reno and was beautifully organized by Kristy Holbrook and her committee.  As I got to know both the members and guests before the dinner I was reminded how much fun these meetings really are.  People from all over come together to relax, laugh and enjoy getting to know each other.  And a lot of business is getting done at the same time.  Here’s how . . .

Benefits to Your Career

There are three primary benefits to joining and actively participating in these groups.  First, are the friendships you will develop over the years.  Second, as you get to know others and they learn about you opportunities to share referrals will naturally develop.   And third, you will learn about what is going on in your field – what’s emerging, who’s who and how you can fit in.  Yes, there is usually a yearly fee and yes, it takes time each month to attend but the benefits to your personal development are well worth it.  Over the years, I have been active in many organizations including the America Society of Training & Development (ASTD); Nevada Professional Coach Association (NPCA); Western Industrial Nevada (WIN) and the Northern Nevada Chamber of Commerce.

Taking a Leadership Role

So look for the associations that you can stretch and grow in.  And then challenge yourself by stepping into a leadership role.  Every association needs to rotate board positions and the work load.  Do your part by volunteering to serve on the board in an area that you can share your experience and expertise actively.  You will be advancing your profession and helping others be successful as well.  And it’s fun as well!

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Volunteering: Icing on the Cake

This week I had the opportunity to attend the Northern Nevada Chamber of Commerce Slices for Service event.  It was very inspiring!  The Chamber brought together about 20 community organizations (non-profit, government & education) with Chamber members to match people with volunteer jobs during these tough economic times.  One of the speakers, Doug Doolittle, Director, Washoe County Regional Parks, said the park budget has been cut by 60% but they are committed to keeping our parks “open, safe & clean”.   It can only be done with volunteers – that’s you, me and our colleagues.  But there are wonderful benefits for the potential volunteer as well.  So here’s my pitch . . .

Are you stuck?  Maybe in a job that has become too routine; doing work that doesn’t use your real skills or maybe locked into a position that doesn’t encourage you to stretch and grow.  But before you quit your day job out of frustration or boredom,  think about changing things up a bit with volunteering.  It will be easier on your wallet and add that “icing on the cake” without a drastic life move.  And you take away new skills, meet new “like-minded” friends and leave with a feeling of being needed, appreciated and productive.   If you’ve recently been laid off and are between jobs these benefits are even doubled!  So here’s how to get started . . .

What Feeds Your Heart & Soul?

Start with what you are passionate about. What puts a sparkle in your eyes and a spring in your step?  Maybe it’s animals; the environment; children; music/theater; art; the environment; schools; libraries; crisis services; food & housing . . . the list is huge.   Know that there are so many needs in our community that your time and energy will be very welcomed.  You may even wind up choosing a couple of opportunities.   Select 2-3 areas that you are passionate about to start researching.

Who’s Doing What?

Ask friends, family, work colleagues who they know who knows someone else that is doing volunteer work in these areas.  It’s like unraveling a ball of string.  Research what organizations are involved in your passion by looking in the paper, on-line . . . even on the bulletin boards at Starbucks.  You’ll be surprised how easy it is to tap into the volunteer and non-profit robust fast-moving network.

Call & Show Up!

Now contact the organizations you’re interested in.  One of the best resources is the RSVP program at UNR 775-784-1807.  They are a clearinghouse matching volunteers with dozens of needy organizations.  Also go on the Washoe County website and look for the volunteer sign-up form & list.  Sign up for something that stretches you a bit, challenges you and adds to your skills.  This is a great way to learn, grow, contribute and add that “icing to the cake”.

Then call and let me know how it went.  Even better meet me up on the Tahoe Rim trail.  We’ll do some clearing of brush and timbers!

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Stepping Into Your Own Brilliance

What an exciting thought!  You are brilliant.  And you are are the verge of stepping into that brilliance in this next career chapter.  So why is it so hard to remember what we’re really good at and what we really enjoy?  During busy and stressful times we often forget the gifts that we bring to our workplaces and even to our families.  We can easily slip into more of a “survivor” mode – just getting through the days the best we can.  But what are we sacraficing when we do that?  A lot!  We lose (and others lose) from us not being at our best and using our talents for others.

So if you’re ready to step into your own brilliance take a moment to reflect back to times that you have been at your best.  Remember how you felt, how others responded to you and the outcome of the things you were doing.  No doubt . . . in those moments you were using your natural talents in some capacity.  Wow!  Now that feels good.  So take it the next step . . . develop your natural talents into career strengths.

Identify Your Natural Talents

A natural talent is the way we think, act or behave that comes easily to us with genuine enjoyment.  It’s like “second nature”.  And our natural talents often have a central theme to them – much like a golden thread running through them.

Step back and ask yourself these five questions.

  • What do I gravitate toward?
  • What appeals to me spontaneously?
  • What comes easily to me?
  • What attracts others to me? What do they say I’m good at?
  • What do I genuinely enjoy doing?  Who do I enjoy being?

What do you see?  Do you find you gravitate toward work with ideas, things or people?  And what do you like to see happen as a result of your involvement?  Keep it simple.  Try and identify five general themes for yourself.

Develop Talents into Career Strengths

Now add knowledge, skills and a dash of practice to develop your natural talents into career strengths.  Seek out opportunities that will give you a chance to use your natural talents.  Need to add some knowledge or more skills?  Then sign up for professional development classes; get a mentor or volunteer in a capacity that you can shine!

Give yourself a bit of time and then enjoy being known for bringing top performance to your work consistently.  And the icing on the cake is that you are genuinely at your best.  Feels pretty good, doesn’t it!

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New Job Jitters

You’re thrilled!  You have a new job after months and months of looking.  It’s exactly what you wanted and you are thankful because the money was starting to run out and your self-confidence was starting to slide as well.  So you’re set . . . or so you thought.  What are these nagging doubts all about?

My friend and colleague, Cindy Saunders, SPHR, HR Manager Tahoe Resources Inc., hit the nail on the head.  She recently published a great article “The Other Side of Unemployment: Employment” NNHRA magazine, March 2011.  Drawing from her own experience, Cindy helps us understand the conflicting emotions a new employee can be feeling in those first few weeks of a new job.  It’s not that they don’t want the job – they do – but now the fear is that they could lose the job.

But how is this different than people getting new jobs in the past?  It is . . . because highly qualified professionals are out of work much longer than in previous depressed economic times.  For even the most skilled and self-confident person the endless searching and rejections take a toll in how we can see ourselves and our abilities.

Tips for Overcoming Jitters

Cindy has excellent suggestions for the HR professionals (and she quotes me!) to ensure that these new highly valuable employees get their feet back under them and strive forth to bring their professional gifts to their new employers.  But you can do a lot on your own behalf to prepare yourself for these first few weeks of “new job jitters”.  Here are three of my favorite suggestions:

  • Be out and about.  Regularly attend professional networking events to continue practicing connecting with other professionals. And then get together with folks you meet over coffee – it gives you wonderful opportunities to present yourself and to chat about mutual professional interests.  The bonus – you are building relationships and your professional network.
  • Work in some capacity.  Consider volunteering or an enjoyable part-time position to stay comfortable with working with teams, working for a boss and taking on new challenges.  The bonus – low key work like this feeds the heart and soul and balances the rigors of job searching.
  • Go learn something.   Sign up for a skills-based class that will stretch your comfort zone and add to your resume to boot.  The bonus – a burst of self-confidence and a delicious feeling that you are still in the loop and just as valuable as anyone else.

 

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Welcome

As many of you know, blogging is taking a step out into the unknown – at least it is for me! I’m taking some of my own advice and stretching, exploring, and expanding my skills and reach.

Join me in my new journey. I’ll be bringing you new tips as I come across them, my thoughts about books I’m reading and information I’m sharing.

But even more, I’m here to listen to what YOU have to say. So, check in. Leave a comment. We’ll chat.

-Warmly, Kit

Posted in And a Bit More, Career Tips & Strategies, Inspirational Leadership, Navigating Change, Your Time & Energy | Tagged | 1 Comment