There are two ways to handle your career, whether you are an A list executive, a plumber, a factory worker, or really any other job – to drive it forwards, or to sit back and be driven. Whether you are working or not, you can still take ownership of yoru path, and choose to be the force that is directing the way it travels, and to where it is ending up. The questions that you can ask yourself are simple, and the results are fantastic when applied daily.
Personal branding is going on all the time, whether you think it is or not. Everything you do, you are becoming known for. Whether you realize it ot not, you have a reputation. The question to ask yourself is do I appear as if I am a driver or a passenger in my career? Here are some simple ways to determine what your reputation may be.
A driver, much like the image above, is one who is steering the activities that are attached to them. They are the people that always seem busy, and are getting things done. A driver is someone that drives their own career, making choices to be active and participate fully. A driver would go to the boss and say to them, "I finished that project, what is next?" Taking personal responsibility for your "brand" and then ensuring that you craft it in a way you want is crucial in this job market. Whether you think so or not, in essence every single job is temporary: it has a beginning and an end. That end may be years from this point in time, but end it will. Taking opportunities to ensure that you have left your "tribe" of workers with a good sense of working with you helps to create more opportunities and to have your peers make you aware of other career possibilities since they can be proud to recommend such a fine worker.
When you are looking for a new work "home", the employer is trying to figure out how you are going to behave. The interview process is meant to determine "fit" into the organization, and it is your role here to create a brand awareness of your worth to the new team. Would you invite someone to live in YOUR home that you felt was not a good addition? It is no different for an organization either. They are looking for Organizational Commitment. They are trying to determine the
"Fit Factor". This posting describes the points of research before application, so you can describe the best fit for the organization and have a greater chance of being asked to join.
A passenger is not what organizations are looking for in this current market. A passenger has to be constantly directed what to do, they let the flow happen without any thoughts to making a difference. If they get involved it is only because they are being asked to do something that makes their life harder, not because it makes the organization better. They are complacent, and look to avoid too much work. They just show up, and wait for things to happen, and are pleased when they don't. Ever lived with a teenager? These workers are not a great deal different than most of them, although not all of them are passengers – some of them are
drivers.
Drivers are workers that take "Personal Responsibility" for their work. They are concerned with the results, and they are not concerned with the efforts put forward. The Driver mentality is a worker that takes ownership of their role, and understands that the better the results they produce, the better the company performs as a whole. The Driver is one who has taken full ownership of their role and product, and this leads to
Organizational Commitment. These types of workers require little supervision, are results oriented, and are constantly looking for ways to bring solutions to the team.
If you have not been in the driver's seat before, there is no time like the present. If you are currently working, start by looking for one extra thing that a team member could use. Start looking for just one suggestion you can make to the team to solve an ongoing problem. If you cannot find a problem, ask your boss if they think there are any problems that are hampering the organization you aren't aware of. Asking simple questions is an easy way to have the appearance of a driver, and the next step is taking action to maintain that brand.
If you are a job seeker, then it is even easier to begin driving your career. Start by looking at how many resumes you are submitting and to how many interviews you are getting back. If you are not getting at least a25% return – one interview for every four resumes submitted – you need help with your resume – it is just not working well. If you are getting interviews, and you are not getting job offers, you need better interview skills. If as a job seeker you cannot find jobs you want to apply to, then start doing information interviews with companies you eventually want to work for. If you do not measure your progress, and are a passenger in your own job search, how are you going to know when you have gotten to a good place? You are not the driver, you are not taking control of the direction you are moving in, you are waiting for someone, somehow, to help you get there. If you are not breathing life into
your personal brand, controlling your destiny, then who IS driving your career?
About the Author: With a total network of over 15 million on LinkedIn spanning Australia, India, China, the UK, Germany, USA, Canada, and even Iran, Chris Kulbaba is a LinkedIn Heavy Weight, and his wish is to help you become one too! Chris is able to assist you to craft your Unique Value Proposal which shows how your values can align with others to create the "fit factor" and enable you to achieve real momentum in your career.
J.T. O'Donnell
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