Web Abstract:
- Think beyond your next job to get ahead in your career.
- Recruit mentors to help you identify and develop the skills you need for career advancement.
- Your experience and accomplishments show employers you're qualified for the job you want.
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Each week I speak with high-performing individuals who are seeking career advice.
These people are almost always ambitious and talented, but they're often doing
a disservice to their career by not thinking far enough ahead. They focus on
what the next logical step in their career might be, but they don't look any
further ahead than that next step.
Focusing only on the next step on the job ladder often results in developing
a deep but narrow skill set that's unique to a specific class of jobs. That
might be fine if you want to stay within that type of job, but if you're looking
to go further, the narrow skill set that you're developing might not be sufficient
to take you to your ultimate objective.
The key to getting ahead in your career is to look past
your next job. Here's a five-step strategy for thinking ahead
that you can use in your own career or to help your employees advance in their careers.
Step 1: Think a Job Ahead
Whenever you find yourself ready to change jobs or advance to the next level
in your career, take time to think about what you want the next job after that
one to be. I like to call the job two steps ahead of where you are right now
"the job that you really want."
The reason to think another step ahead is because your next opportunity must
equip you with the skills and experience you need for the subsequent job—the
one you really want. Ask yourself "What gaps in my current skills and experience
do I need to fill before I can get the job I really want?" Your next job should
help you fill those gaps. For example, if you're a frontline manager of administrators,
it's unlikely that you'd be able to step directly into the position of director
of operations. You need to think about the skills that you're lacking for the
director of operations position, then make sure your next job takes you closer
to your goal.
Step 2: Find Mentors
Identify people who currently have the job you really want or a comparable one
and ask them for a few minutes of career mentoring. Send each person your resume
in advance and explain your intentions.
During the meeting, be up-front. Explain that you'd eventually like to have
a job similar to the one that your mentor has. Summarize your experience and
your current role. Then, ask what would prevent you from getting your mentor's
job if you were to interview today to succeed him or her.
After talking with a few people, determine the common themes that arose across
those discussions. You should be able to identify a set of skills and achievements
that you'll need to qualify for the job you really want. Building on the earlier
example, you might find, for instance, that the people who currently hold director
of operations and network operations manager positions aren't confident that
you have the experience necessary to manage a seven-figure budget, would prefer
a candidate who has a stronger business background, and believe that you'll
need to show that you've successfully managed people of multiple disciplines
rather than just administrators.
By seeking out mentors who hold positions similar to the one you want to eventually
have, you'll expand your professional network more than you would have been
able to by networking only with your co-workers and current manager. You might
very well meet people who know of opportunities that could help you further
your career. It's also important to stay in touch with those mentors as you
progress in your career. At some point in the future, those people might have
a need for someone with your skill set or experience. Making yourself known
and leaving a positive impression on the people you meet with can pay huge dividends
in the future.
Step 3: Obtain Needed Skills and experience
When you have a clear idea of the types of skills and experience you'll need
in order to get the job you really want, map those skills and that experience
to a job that will help you obtain them. You might find that there's more than
one job between you and the job you really want, but you should be able to plan
your ascension strategically.
Continuing with our earlier example of moving from being a frontline manager
of administrators to a leadership position in the IT department, you realize
that as a front- line manager, you've never been involved in forecasting and
managing a budget. Your management experience might also be limited to overseeing
a few people who report directly to you as the functional expert in your group.
To become qualified for the leadership position you want, you'll need to develop
budgeting skills and broaden your management experience.
To gain experience in managing a budget, you might want to pursue a position
in which budget management is a core responsibility. Alternatively, you could
ask your current manager to give you a role in the budgeting process. To build
your business background, you might enroll in a certificate program in finance
or organizational management at a local university or community college. To broaden
your management experience, you might consider looking for a position that expands
your role beyond just the area in which you're recognized as a technical expert.
For example, you might go after a job as the manager of a line of business (LOB)
application team that includes developers as well as administrators. Such a position
gives you a chance to demonstrate that you can be successful in other areas and
can adapt to new situations. Put them all together, and these actions constitute
your plan of attack for achieving the skills and experience you need.
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