|
Article from The Straits Times, Recruit, 30th December 2002
SURVIVING UNCERTAINTY
Think of the current downturn as an exercise on how to survive in the face of adversity. A career coach shows how.
Uncertainty. That is one word that stood out in the recent recommendations by the National Wage Council for severe wage restraint this year. Workers are now looking at a scenario where changes are fluid. You have to be equipped to survive the uncertainties ahead as your job is not secure. Here are some suggestions on how you can survive the storm.
• Be ready for more responsibilities
You may end up with more on your plate, but in the long term, this approach will work towards your benefit. With additional responsibilities and exposure to a wider scope of work, you will have the opportunity to acquire more skills and knowledge. This, in turn, will make you a more marketable employee.
• Be mobile
In Asia, executives are becoming more amenable to overseas postings. Be ready to accept postings across functions as well. You may not have all the necessary skills and knowledge to handle a different set of responsibilities, but it reflects well on you if you give it your best shot.
Remember: Your organisation would not have offered you the opportunity if they did not feel that you were up for it.
• Embrace change
Change is inevitable. Rather than resist change, embrace it and make use of it to enhance your career. Look at each change as an opportunity for you to take on a new challenge that teaches you new skills.
• Be visible
Being visible does not mean being loud. You don’t have to hog the limelight all the time. Sharpen your presentation and oral skills so that when you find the opportunity to impress clients or top management, you will shine.
And as a professional in your own field, get involved with the industry. For example, volunteer to speak at public seminars. You may not be paid for your service, but the experience and the exposure will be far more valuable.
• Keep a strong customer focus
The customer is the reason why most, if not all, businesses exist these days. Whatever your role, be it handling internal or external customers, you have to strive to meet, and even exceed your customers’ expectations.
• Be creative
Find new ways of doing things differently. The common misconception here is that creative thinking results in earth shattering changes in the way we do things. It simply means doing day-to-day activities differently or more efficiently.
• Take charge of your career
To survive and do well in the corporate battlefield, you have to steer your career. You need to move it along the direction that will see you maintaining employability. Be more responsible towards your own career management. Starting now, brush up on your skills.
In all hiring situations, the interviewer will be looking at whether you have what it takes to succeed in performing the duties required of the job they are looking to fill. Hence, you must adopt a learning mindset and constantly strive to learn, pick up new skills, keep yourself updated with on-going developments in your particular field of expertise.
• Manage your relationships
Being successful in this world is all about building, managing and maintaining successful relationships with people. You can never function effectively if you are in isolation.
Build healthy and successful relationships with everyone you come into contact with, including the humble (but much needed and seldom appreciated) tea lady. How you treat her will show your colleagues the kind of person you are.
Article by Paul Heng, managing director, NeXT Career Consulting. Website: www.nextcareer.net He is also the president of the Asian Association of Career Management Professionals. Website: www.aacmp.org.sg
|
Programs 