Take Advantage of Opportunities within Your Career

Earning a promotion used to happen solely at the discretion of the employer. Promotions were largely based on job performance and longevity with the company. Today, however, it’s a much different atmosphere. Women especially need to take control of their own career development in order to create the professional future they envision – whether that’s climbing the corporate ladder or securing the fulfilling work and projects they most desire.

Self-marketing techniques are useful tools often applied to the job-seeking process, but promoting yourself should not end once you are employed. Whether you have started a new job or whether you are in a position you have held for a long period of time, self-marketing must continue to be used if you are to remain a viable asset to your company. If you have not learned how to self-market, take the time to do so.

A core concept we teach at New Directions Career Center (NDCC) workshops is to constantly access the needs of your employer, promoting yourself within the context of those needs. You should never stop self-promoting, because even after you have been hired, there are many more opportunities that exist within your company and your industry. You have the potential to keep growing within your profession, and you are in charge of demonstrating such potential to your employers.

Time and again you may have demonstrated to your supervisors your exceptional skills, but if these skills are not what a growing company actually needs, your self-promotion efforts will be disregarded or overlooked. Realize what your company needs that may be outside the skill sets you already employ. This will give you the opportunity to adapt, train and then demonstrate why you are the best person to fill the company’s unmet need.

The process of promoting yourself is more sophisticated than it used to be. There is a great deal of competition, and if you cannot communicate who you are and demonstrate what you can do, and pursue continuing educational opportunities in your field, it is unlikely you will reach your goals or find longevity  with your company.  (Note:  “Longevity” varies by field but its measure could be two years, five years, or beyond!)  Additionally, self-marketing is about regular interaction with your employer, not bombarding them with every one of your untapped abilities during annual performance reviews. It may seem daunting at first, but you can effectively manage your own career development.

Important tips to remember about self-marketing:

• You are in charge of your career.
• Learn how to self-market and continuously self-promote your talents.
• Keep your message flexible. Listen to what employers need, and adjust your skill-set accordingly.
• Consistently market yourself from beginning to end with customized materials and relevant skills.
• Complement the needs of your employer. Remain competitive by educating and promoting yourself.
• You are the solution to their problem. Send a customized message that conveys this solution.

If you are unsure of how to begin, New Directions Career Center can help.