Don’t wait to Gear Up: Proactively Shore Up your Career Assets

It’s always a little surprising when seasoned professionals, deep into their careers, only start shoring up their career assets when faced with a job change. Why wait until you’re in a pinch? Shouldn’t you have been “gearing up” along the way?

If your goal is to accelerate your career, you need to equip yourself for the journey long before you find yourself navigating the job market. Let’s explore the essential career assets you should have ready and those you might need to strengthen.

Dust off that resume:

Your resume should be a living document—compelling, clear, and targeted at the decision-makers who will hire you. Don’t just update it when your job hunting; regularly revise it to reflect your most recent accomplishments and skills. And while you’re at it, draft a companion cover letter that complements your resume. Keep it short, succinct, and engaging, offering additional context and value for the receiver.

Is your LinkedIn Profile Engaging or Blah, Blah, Blah?

Your LinkedIn profile should be consistent with your resume but not a carbon copy. This is your platform to provide “evidence” of your expertise, strengths, and results. Use it to showcase projects, share testimonials, and highlight endorsements that align with the positions you’re seeking.

Endorsements are Powerful Stuff:

Scroll down to your LinkedIn endorsements. Are they current? Do they support the career direction you’re pursuing? Ensure you have at least 3–5 solid endorsements. Make it easy for people to endorse you by providing key points or even drafting a version they can edit. You might also consider asking if you can include their endorsement, or an excerpt, in your resume or cover letter.

Curate your Evidence:

Hopefully, you’ve been diligent about saving work samples—awards, achievements, results, testimonials. If not, start now! These artifacts are tangible proof of your value and can significantly boost your credibility.

Cultivate your Network:

Your most valuable career asset is your network—the people who will help you on your career trek. Recognize the “genius zone” of each contact: some excel at networking and making introductions, others offer creative ideas, and some bring expertise in the job search process. Remember, job seeking isn’t a solo endeavor; it’s a team effort. And always express appreciation to each team member throughout your journey.

AI and other Tools:

There are many tools available to help, and AI is a particularly strong one. AI can assist you in writing your resume, cover letters, drafts of endorsements, and more, helping you to present your best self.

Conclusion:

To land your dream job, your career artifacts must be current and adaptable, as the job search process is rarely linear. For those eager to accelerate their careers, don’t wait until you need these tools and resources—maintain and refine them throughout your career journey.

Subscribe to my newsletter for ongoing insights on your journey to accelerate your career trajectory by leveraging proven sales strategies.

Lisa D. Magnuson, author of:

The Top Sales Leader Playbook: How to Win 5X Deals Repeatedly

The Top Seller Advantage: Powerful Strategies to Build Long-term Executive Relationships

The 48-Hour Rule and Other Strategies for Career Survival

Founder & CEO, www.toplinesales.com