For comments, suggestions, & contributions write/email the Webmaster at [email protected], [email protected]
by Petite Gaces
Gina, a 28-year-old financial officer, never thought she would join the ranks of the unemployed. A college honor graduate, she got numerous offers from top companies before finally joining a firm that was very persistent in recruiting her. She had every reason to believe that she was a valuable asset to her company and that her position was secure. So imagine her surprise when, during a crisis period last November, her boss announced that the company was downsizing-and Gina's department would be closed.
"It was a big blow to the ego. You think your company needs you, but they can let you go, just like that," she says. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, Gina grabbed her phone book which, after two years in the corporate world, was bulging with numbers of associates and contacts. Pretty soon, she got job offers again. "I've learned not to take any job for granted," she shares. "You have to watch out for yourself and constantly improve-once you no longer do a good job, the company can easily get rid of you."
These days, a lot of us share Gina's sense of uncertainty. It seems that there is no such thing as job security anymore. Even large corporations close shop or downsize if it means higher profits. And with the wave of fresh, computer-literate, Internet-savvy graduates hitting the job-market, it looks like everyone is in for a very competitive time ahead.
So whether you choose to climb the corporate ladder, make a dramatic career shift, or strike out on your own as an entrepreneur or freelancer, Cosmo shares five practical tips for getting-and staying-ahead.
Discipline Yourself
Jean, 24, has a work schedule that is the envy of most 9-to-5 employees. A freelance writer, she wakes up around 9 or 10 a.m. After a relaxed breakfast, she hits the computer. She can stop any time she wants to and go out for a cup of coffee or go shopping. Even with her flexible schedule, Jean is far from lazy. "I work as hard as any regular employee," she stresses.
Tina, a mom and career woman at 22, shares the same principle. "It was very hard at first. I had to learn to balance my professional and personal life, and discipline myself to be at the office on time."
Both agree that it is this discipline that sets them apart from their peers. "The people I work for are impressed when I turn in a project before the deadline," Jean enthuses. "Because of that, they trust me to do several projects for them, which takes care of my paychecks for several months. It takes real discipline not to procrastinate. And that discipline has to be self-imposed, because no one is there to watch my back."
Discipline also means knowing when you're taking on too many responsibilities. Celia Hawe, a life coach who helps people figure out their direction in life believes successful women succeed in life, not just at work. She encourages women to regularly take breaks and do things they enjoy. "If you take no breaks from work, you will most certainly lose your passion for work. If you lose your passion, you cannot succeed in your work." Remember, it takes just as much discipline to know when to stop as it does to push yourself to work.
Develop Multiple Skills
Mags, 32, graduated with a degree in commerce. "I never took any computer classes, but when I started working, I noticed that the computer was becoming an important office tool." Instead of using the excuse that she never learned how to use one in school, she started reading computer books and bugging her officemates for lessons. Pretty soon, her boss was asking her to do more computer-related tasks. Mags eventually landed a job as Information Services manager of a publishing firm. "If I stayed complacent, I would probably still be doing clerical jobs," she says.
You're never too old to learn new things. Whether it's learning how to use new software, making a sales proposal, or brushing up on a foreign language, invest some time and effort in learning a skill you didn't initially have. More often than not, it will pay off in the future.
But it's not always easy. More often than not, you will feel unsure or even insecure at first. But you only need to persevere before your new skill becomes useful. The most important advantage of acquiring different skills is your flexibility and versatility. Learning new skills is just a matter of being open-minded."You should never think that what you know is enough and that you don't need to learn anything else," Mags adds.
Another way to learn new skills is to work with people who you don't normally work with. Computer graphic designers have something to learn from accountants. Marketing professionals can get a lesson or two from engineers. Don't shun the chance to work with people who know more than you do because it might be your ticket to a valuable new skill.
continue here>>>.
Reprinted as authorized by Cosmopolitan Philippines April 2001