Are You All You Can Be?

June 19, 2012

Employers, as most would guess, are looking for the best and brightest to work for their companies. So, as you are searching for a job, are you still making yourself and skills better? Here are some tips on how to keep you in top condition for the working world.

1. Stay current – Do you know what is going on in the world around you? Read business journals, read the news, read industry journals, read blogs…read everything you can get your hands on. It is especially crucial to stay current on all that is going on in the industry you would like to work in. If a potential employer asks you to discuss a current issue in their industry you need to have some knowledge on the subject in order to have an intelligent conversation.

2. Refresh your skills – It never hurts to improve the skills you already have. Chances are, unless you learned them recently, they have found a faster, more efficient way of using that skill anyway. Take online classes to finish up your credits from college or earn some new ones. Also, don’t forget to renew certifications and licenses to make sure you are ready to be hired when the right job comes along!

3. Network, Network, Network! – This cannot be stressed enough. In business, it is all about who you know. Go to industry events, seminars, or join online groups. Even talking to strangers you see everyday in the coffee shop can earn you some new contacts, and who knows, a job! Conversations with people in your industry can be the start of future partnerships. If you need more tips on networking, check out our April 24th blog.

4. Exercise your creativity – Not only is it important to keep the technical side of our brains in shape, but it is also important to keep the right side of the brain active. Creativity is just as much a part of the business world as is logic. Along with those online business courses, go to your community center and take an art class. Check out these sites to find classes in your area: Creative Arts Center of Dallas and Arts Fifth Ave. (Fort Worth).

Don’t just sit around waiting to get a call saying you got the job. Get on your feet and be all you can be!