Our previous post was the first part of a very insightful piece by Duke MEM alumnus Charelle Lewis. It was very well-received so I am particularly happy to post Part B. For Charelle’s bio and Part A of her Career Development Insights please see the previous post on this blog and enjoy her additional insights below.
***************************************************************************************************
Career Development Insights – What I Would Tell Myself at 22 (Part B)
by Charelle Lewis
Be Mindful of Your Reputation
This seems obvious, but you would be surprised by the number of people who commit reputation suicide. Keep your “Digital Image” clean, this means Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Linked In. While you might not agree with it, employers ARE monitoring their employees’ activities on social networking sites. Remember, once something is out in the digital universe, it’s almost impossible to get it back. Play it safe, don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see.
Learn how to be a Team Player. . . You need to follow before you can lead.
Know Where You Stand
Career Development is YOUR responsibility. Take the time to create a Development Plan and make sure you keep it current. Constantly ask for feedback (real feedback, not the fluff that is often exchanged). Tell your manager about your career goals and get their advice on next steps.
Whenever you are given advice, remember to “Keep the meat, and spit out the bones”. Translation: Not all advice is good advice. Respectfully listen to the advice, but only act on the things that make sense given your situation and desired outcomes.
Keep a file of your job history, rewards & accomplishments. Job applications are much easier when you have all your personal information in one place and you can copy and paste to tailor the application as needed. Also, keep your resume up-to-date. Updating your resume is a lot less painful if you have a 6 month cadence around it.
Learn The Art of Bragging
Learn how to humbly publicize your accomplishments. “Brag! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horne w/o Blowing It” is a great book on this topic. Once you learn how to brag, find Advocates/Mentors who will do the same. The REAL difference between an employee making $40K and one making $400K is perceived value. If you are not perceived as valuable, you won’t last long. Share stakeholder feedback about your performance (especially unsolicited feedback) w/ your manager (and their manager) to confirm your strengths.
You’re Not Supposed to Know it All
You Don’t Have to be an Expert, but Learn Who the Experts Are. Surround Yourself with “Smart People”. Like the President, build a strong Cabinet of knowledgeable individuals who can advise you on every aspect of your responsibilities. Don’t be afraid to borrow shamelessly (as long as you provide credit). Don’t reinvent the wheel; spend your time and effort on things that don’t already exist.
Last but Not Least…Know Where You Draw the Line
At some point in your career you will probably face a situation which causes you to question someone else’s actions and/or integrity. Make sure you take the time to get all the details and act according to your moral compass. Document everything! By focusing on facts and data, you eliminate the confusion emotion often brings. Your integrity is one of your most important assets, once it takes a hit it is really hard to restore.
These key principles have helped me acclimate and excel in many different roles, but this of course is not the only recipe for success. As mentioned previously, “Keep the meat, and spit out the bones”.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
