Be the Best to Do My Best

I was recently working on a video about career tips for my students. I’ve been fortunate to have worked in several organizations over the past three decades, so there are many lessons learned that I can provide to others.

Interestingly, the biggest takeaways I’ve experienced over this long journey occurred when things did not go well for me. For example, I vividly remember the time when I was part of the group that was “rightsized.” It was a tough situation because I did not have a solid backup plan, and I was given 60 days of severance pay, which put a ton of strain on my growing family.

Get Your Education

In the career video, which I will include as a link here, I mentioned the value of earning of investing in yourself, including earning a college degree. The point here is that employers are looking for individuals with strong critical thinking skills.

The courses we complete in both our undergraduate and graduate studies teach us how to look at problems and opportunities from various angles, and this is an important skill when managing the complex issues that we face today.

Pursue Professional Certifications

When I look back at my career, there is a notable accomplishment I earned in 2008. The Project Management Professional (PMP) has provided many career opportunities over the years, and I highly recommend it.

Given the competitive marketplace, job candidates must look for differentiators, and industry certifications are the way to go. Most of the applications today are screened by an algorithm, and if the requested certification is missing, the candidate will be skipped.

Work Experience

I remember applying for my first jobs at the age of 22, and I was unhappy that the jobs I wanted required at least 5 years of work experience. I felt it would take forever to reach this milestone. Many of my younger students have shared the same sentiment.

Instead of worrying about the work experience requirement, it’s best to just jump into the workforce. Like everyone else, we have to start somewhere, and our first jobs will likely lack the glamour we seek, but we are looking for industry experience … that is what matters at this point.

The Intangibles

There are people who have the education, professional certifications, and work experience. However, they lack the key intangibles that employers seek.

Here is what has worked for me: just be myself!

When interviewing for positions, I am confident and direct. It’s okay for me to say I do not have all the answers. I also make it clear that the success of any organization depends on the commitment and tenacity of everyone. In short, everyone must do their part.

Finally, it’s important to demonstrate how I will lead with humility and leave my ego at the door.

The Luck Factor

Here’s my perspective on luck, and I believe it wholeheartedly: The luckiest people are the ones that have done everything in their power to position themselves for success.

It’s far easier to experience luck if you are good at what you do.

Homework Inquiry

During the next week, here’s your homework inquiry: Which professional development certification will you pursue?