The secrets of career success

Margie Anderson The One Umbrella Group

The secrets of career success are easy to find. There are many people and many sources that will give you advice on how to make the most of your career. Most people in search of the secrets already have the key ingredients at their finger tips; planning, motivation, hard work, a little chemistry and a little luck. The real secret is how to mix the key ingredients together and put them into action so that they work for you.

Why talk of careers rather than jobs?
The title of this paper very deliberately mentions careers, rather than jobs or employment. I am a firm believer that a successful career is an ongoing pathway, built over time, that will change, adapt and develop. In a rapidly changing information age the key to building a successful career in the knowledge and information industry is to manage the development and application of skills and to build ongoing learning practices, both personally and professionally.

Anticipate that you will be in your career for the long haul and plan to make the most of it. The area you first went into won't be the same as the field you retire from. There will be many changes and the roles you play will be very different from each other. Relish these changes. Look forward to a career that is dynamic and exciting. Take control of your own career and enjoy the ride.

Are we there yet? What is career success?
Success is almost impossible to define. What is one persons ultimate goal may be little admired by another. In the past a successful career was one that gave you stability, a regular pay cheque that increased incremental, progression through a series of defined levels of responsibility and status and the security of knowing your job would always be there for you.

In a new century things are very different. There is limited security of tenure. Remuneration is often a mixed bag including wages, bonuses and substitutes like flexible hours or the ability to work from home. Flat organisational structures mean you may not have a series of levels to work through and that your next role will probably be a sideways move. Everything about your job is guaranteed to change.

It is harder to read the signs that tell you that you have made it in your chosen field. Perhaps you are there already and have forgotten to celebrate.

I believe that success in a career is a personal yard stick. Success means a work life that makes you happy and meets your own individual goals. A winning career gives you personal fulfilment and meets your own measures and checks. Being successful professionally means that you have the ability and opportunity to work in the areas you have chosen. Success is planning for what you want and then achieving it.

The best way to get ahead is to plan for it
Most people do very little planning when it comes to their careers. They wait for opportunities to present to them and down the track look back on a career that wandered along without direction.

Be proactive about planning your success. Make short, medium and long term goals. Work through some of the big issues, such as: what areas do I really want to work in? What excites me? What am I good at? How can I get into the areas I love? What skills do I need and how do I acquire them? Do my goals fit in with the reality of the work place and my lifestyle?

You can't build a successful career without a plan. Review your plan often and make sure you are on the right track. Remember that having a plan alone won't make it happen. You need to undertake action.

Skills planning and acquisition
Current employment trends bear out that adaptation of skills is paramount to career success. Whist it is imperative that information professionals possess a core base of professional knowledge provided by professional studies, it is equally imperative that over time skills and attributes are questioned for suitability and that new skill sets are built.

It is obvious that roles and tasks in the information industry have changed. As a recruiter I can see that employers are seeking a very different set of skills in their employees. The One Umbrella Group have provided employment opportunities to information professionals in Australia for over 15 years. A search of the over 8000 jobs we have filled shows that employers requirements have changed dramatically. Every year, each new system or software brings with it the requirements to upgrade skills. Our list of criteria upon which we assess the suitability and employability of job seekers grows each month.

Terms of employment and employers expectations have also changed. We see more short-term contracts and increases in project-based work along with an increase in technology uptake. With employees now changing roles more rapidly there has been a shift in responsibility for maintaining training and development. Individuals, rather that organisations or employers, must be responsible for, and proactive about, their own professional development. Individuals must seek out learning situations for themselves and ensure they have control over their skills development.

Many job hunters seek the advice of One Umbrella staff to help them plan their career development. So when faced with the question of "how do I learn everything I need to know in this industry" my advice is as follows:

Determine the gaps in your skills
Simply, this means working out what you need to know. By undertaking a skills audit, of both your own skills and those being sought by employers, you can ascertain where your own strengths and weaknesses lie and how you stack up again the Competition. Be critical and honest about your own abilities. Measure them against your peers and colleagues. Find out what skills are hot in the industry. Scan the employment pages and see how you would compete against what is being sought. Look at subjects being covering in information management courses and see if you already possess these skills. Talk with managers, recruiter and colleagues about what skills are required to perform different tasks.

Look for relevant sources of learning
There are so many options when it comes to finding a source for your learning that you should have no excuse for finding something that suits your situation and needs. Be creative and look across the board at:

Formal qualifications
Short courses
Industry based training
Online training
Professional associations and groups such as ALIA, RMAA
Mentors
Colleagues
Observe your workmates and ask how it's done
Be prepared to teach yourself

Decide how you could best apply new skills
Many job seekers think that acquiring new skills is sufficient to develop their career. Any benefit can only be made if you have the ability to apply your talents. Look at what it is you really want to achieve and how you think you might do so. What new jobs in the information industry really appeal to you? Even if you have the skills to undertake a new role, can you do so in your current organisation? Are you able to move into a new organisation, position or field? Look for ways to demonstrate and hone your new skills, either in a formal workplace or outside the employment field. Create a career plan that involves both a plan for learning and a plan to application. Don't wait until it is too late before you begin to put your new skills into action. Requirements may have changed by the time you get 'round to demonstrating your prowess.

Balance work and the rest of your life
Being successful means finding a balance between all the aspects of your life. Take into consideration your lifestyle goals and how they will impact your career goals. If you want to live on a remote island enjoying a stress free life it's going to impact your career choices in a big way!

Take on realistic challenges and set realistic time frames. If your study plan gives you no time for anything else you'll abandon it pretty quickly. Be aware that there will be peaks and troughs. Make sure you set yourself up for success and not for failure.

Putting together and staying motivated
Maintaining momentum is probably one of the hardest aspects of career management. Looking forward will be easier if you have a plan and goals. However, don't let these plans get in the way of great opportunities that may arise. Most successful people will tell you they took several leaps of faith when an unexpected opportunity arose. Sometimes that opportunity is hard to spot and sometimes it is disguised as a negative (like a retrenchment).

Put your plan together and follow it but be prepare to make turn off the road when a detour sign comes along.

Employers wish list

So, when you are planning your professional development, what are the main attributes employers will be looking for?
Terrific all around IT skills. This applies to all sectors and at all levels. Computer courage and competence is essential.
Sparkling attitude. Employers want people with a can-do approach. Problem solvers and solution makers are highly sought. Enthusiasm, motivation and a mature outlook are the keys.
Great communicator. Successful professionals have the ability to work with teams, the public, employers and colleagues. Terrific presentation and communication is a must.
Proactivity and partnership. Employers and employees who can work together and seek out success.

The golden rules
Here are my top tips for career development and success.

Remember that you are master of your own destiny
Undertake regular and thorough personal skills and attributes audit
Match your skill needs to your goals
Seek out learning environments
Be aware of moving targets and be prepared to change your plans
Seek out ways to apply your skills
Set goals and monitor them
Maintain momentum and motivation

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