We are on the Road

If you are in the Elgin, IL to Aurora, IL corridor you might see our new bus signs.  Do you need more information?

Career Search Action Plan

Tweetchat today in #careerchat was on your Career Search Action Plan

Here are some of the highlights -
What are the main components of a career action plan?

• Where you are, where you want to be and the plan is how you are going to get there
• Plan should be broken up into time frames - 3 months, 6 months, 1 year 5 year etc.
• A start point and an end point. Know how you will start and have a reachable goal in mind, with room to adjust.
• As with any plan - C.A.P. must be SMART - specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely
• An interim step... figure out what you want, then make SURE that is REALLY what you want. Volunteer, Intern, job shadow.
• I like looking at LI profiles of people who do what I want to do. Great info on how to get there.

How do you get started on putting together an action plan?

• assess skills, find ones needed, how to obtain the new skills, how to market yourself once you have the new skills
• You might want to use sites like the @Vault or @glassdoordotcom to help you research
• Make 3 column list of jobs that interest u, traits/skills nec., & how u will acquire those skills.
• Prepare Short term and Long term GOALS 5. Prepare action plan to sort the achievable
• Conduct info meetings with colleagues and referrals of people who have the job you are after. Learn how they got there! 
• Your HR Department may be a resource for career plan help, especially if you would  like to stay with your existing company
• Studies show if you articulate it (tell someone) your goals, you're MUCH more likely to do it.

When do you need to adjust/revisit your action plan?

• You should look over it often, even it's just quarterly. If you have gone astray, it's time to kick it back into motion.
• whenever you attain an original goal, you need to reevaluate, you need an if/then philosophy
• If something isn't working or you found a new direction
• Know your PERFORMANCE EVALUATION system-very important thing to do to keep track of career action plan as an employee
• If you find yourself dreading work more than loving it, time to re-evaluate
• Don't wait until you've been laid off or are in a tough spot to start thinking about your plan, it'll be too late
• Career action plans must be PROACTIVE not REACTIVE
• Do you stick to the same profession or change completely? yes, if there is growth potential, if not change!
• Have you written your career plan or is it all in your head?

If you are working on your career plan, you can use http://www.illinoisworknet.com/vos_portal/residents/en/Prepare/ as a resource to help you in the planning and assessment process.

Are you dialoguing?

"Two monologues do not make a dialogue." - Jeff Daly

This quote was in one of my emails recently.  It reminded me of a program I saw on television where two people were talking out loud to each other, but were carrying on their own conversation.  They each solved their own problem, but never acknowledged each others thoughts.  (The New Adventures of Old Christine)

Both the quote and program struck me as important when it comes to adapting your interview skills.  

You may be called for an interview and you have several points you want to share about your work history or experiences you have had, but what is the interviewer asking you.

When you are networking, are you so intent on sharing your projects that you are not listening to the person with whom you are networking?  Perhaps listening to what they are saying you might find a way that you can help them or "pay it forward" by connecting them with someone you know within your network.