A Career Management Strategy © Miles Lauzon January 19, 2010

A Career Management Strategy Outline your objectives Develop an Implementation Plan Acquire the Knowledge and Skills you need to “make it happen” Stay “Connected” to the world outside your job © Miles Lauzon

A Career Management Strategy Outline Your Objectives  Doing what “turns your crank”  Career Advancement  Service and Volunteerism  Work – Life Balance  Compensation  Retirement Options Priorities? Consistency? Realism? © Miles Lauzon

A Career Management Strategy Develop an Implementation Plan  Prepare to get the job you want  Prepare for the day you are fired  Actively manage your work – life balance  Have a financial plan Start early. Be diligent.  Make yourself promotable © Miles Lauzon

A Career Management Strategy Acquire the Knowledge and Skills you need to “make it happen”  Objective needs analysis Interpersonal, technical, business?  Know a lot about a little or know a little about a lot? © Miles Lauzon

Acquire the skills and knowledge to make it happen Some areas to consider for broader knowledge and self improvement: Effective Communications Psychology Accounting and finance Economics Marketing Competitive business strategies Salesmanship Negotiating Human Resources Management Personal Financial and Estate Planning Stress Management © Miles Lauzon

A Career Management Strategy Stay “connected” to the world outside your job  Networking An ongoing, active communication among people with similar business and professional interests  Get involved in professional, industry and community organizatons © Miles Lauzon

Stay Connected to the world outside your job Networking  Where does your network come from? Classmates Work colleagues Former Bosses Former colleagues, suppliers, customers, competitors 5 to 10 “headhunters” People you meet. Always carry your business card  How many Active “Inner Circle” Active “Outer Circle” Acquaintances © Miles Lauzon

Stay Connected to the world outside your job Networking  Some guidelines Be genuine, honest and respectful of people’s time Respect privacy and confidences. Don’t spread rumours Be prepared to give more than you get  DON’T WAIT UNTIL YOU NEED A NETWORK TO BEGIN BUILDING ONE © Miles Lauzon

Develop and Implementation Plan Prepare yourself to get the job that you want  Professional resume and focussed cover letter  Learn and practise interview skills  Carefully assess your leverage. Know what is negotiable  Know what your are signing Acknowledging company policies Confidentiality and Non Compete Employment Contract  Throughout the process, be mature, respectful and businesslike © Miles Lauzon

Develop and Implementation Plan Prepare yourself for the day you are fired  Understand the situation and how it is likely to unfold  Manage your reaction to get “the most” from the situation. Goals: Fair treatment Preserve relationships Leave as many doors open as possible  Know your rights and your options Employment Standards Offer letter or employment contract Prevailing practice  Have a “loss of income” emergency plan © Miles Lauzon

Develop and Implementation Plan Proactively manage your work – life balance equation  Understand what brings you satisfaction Challenge and sense of accomplishment Belonging to a team Money Personal and family time Activities outside of your job and family  Expectations: yours and your employer’s  Be prepared to live with the consequences of your decisions  If you are not where you want to be, fix it © Miles Lauzon

Develop and Implementation Plan Have a Financial Plan  Happiness is matching lifestyle to income  Understand all the components of your compensation package  Become a prudent investor, not a gambler.  Learn at least the basics of the tax laws  Make rational decisions on insurance  Use rigour and your analytical skills to Evaluate alternatives and opportunities Manage risk © Miles Lauzon

Develop and Implementation Plan Make yourself promotable  Get results No results with good reasons ≠ Results  Learn to manage conflict and make groups function better  Build a constituency of support “Your failure = My Success” doesn’t work for long  Hire people who are smarter than you  Continually improve your knowledge and skills © Miles Lauzon

A Career Management Strategy © Miles Lauzon January 19, 2010