Making Connections
Schmoozing to successWallflowers take note: A job well done may not be enough to land you a promotion. |
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 [ 2007-04-04 ] |
© 2007 Jupiterimages Corporation.
Available jobs drop off as you climb the corporate ladder, so who you know can become as important as what you know, says Fran O'Brien, a networking instructor at Chubb Insurance. Start schmoozing with these tips.
- Don't box yourself in by limiting your career goals. Saying you want to become vice-president indicates you lack desire to reach higher.
- Develop a specific five-year plan that focuses on specific business aspects you enjoy but allows room for growth.
- Get time with higher-level executives. One chat won't guarantee a promotion, but it will give you a leg up.
- Network with those who manage the job you want instead of relying on your immediate boss to make connections for you.
YOUR CAREER, TAKE TWO
If you're like most of us, a career change is in on your mind, but for reasons other than just the bottom line.
Nearly 60% of people have or are considering switching jobs, according to a survey conducted by Money magazine and Salary.com, which researched the best jobs for those of us looking to make a change.
"A lot of people find that their first career may not be the right career," said Bill Coleman, senior vice-president of compensation at Salary.com.
Passion for the work was cited as a common priority across four groups: Early career changers, parents returning to work, military retirees and workers over 50, he said. Among the best jobs for members of those categories were product or brand manager, executive recruiter, intelligence analyst and nonprofit executive.
Aside from the paycheque, workers also sought quality health-care benefits, child care and flexible scheduling, Coleman said.
The survey polled more than 12,000 people, 7,000 of whom indicated they were planning or had recently initiated a career change. That group was surveyed further to identify their career goals and interests.
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