Five Ways to Protect and Grow Your Career

Here's a list of ways to protect and grow your career from Yahoo:

1. Invest in your education.
2. Shift to an industry that needs workers.
3. Document your accomplishments.
4. Tackle tasks no one else wants.
5. Accept high-profile assignments close to review time.

A few thoughts from me:

1. Getting a good education is one BIG way to grow both your career and your income. It sure worked for me.

2. One great way to protect and grow your career is to overperform in your position and make sure people know about it. Documenting your accomplishments is a key part of this process.

3. If people take on necessary tasks that no one else wants to handle -- and they do them well -- then there will always be a job for them.

4. I'd modify #5 to simply "accept high-profile assignments." Of course these will also put you in the line of fire (if they go south, your career could be hampered in a major way), but if you're confident of success, I'd suggest always going for high-profile assignments. Besides, if you do crash and burn, you can always get a job somewhere else.

5. If there aren't any high-profile assignments, create your own. Find out what your organization needs (grow sales, cut costs, etc.) and come up with an idea that will help them do this in a substantial way. In my last company, I saw a way we could make a very good amount of money, I submitted the idea for consideration, it was approved, and I carried it out. That year, this project was the one that put us over the top to get our annual bonuses. Needless to say, I was popular with my co-workers that year. ;-)

Comments

[Shaun Connell]

I started documenting what I do every day a few months ago, and I have to admit, it's a great way to keep you on the ball. I try to get 2 major projects and 4-5 small projects on the list every day. I haven't asked for a raise yet, but I might in the future. It will be the first time. :)

[Scordo.com]

I would also recommend:

- Trying to be sees as an employee who can do many things while at the same time being diplomatic (the goal is really to become indispensable).

Vince Scordo

[Strick]

The way to never get downsized is a modification of #4. Tackle tasks that your boss is currently handling that he hates. If you keep your ears open, they are not hard to find, just listen for what he complains the most about having to do and offer to help. If you get a couple of these, he'll do all he can to keep you on in the down times.

[Frank]

Strick --

Agreed. Or at the least... make his job easier by helping to streamline tasks that he hates.

After doing that for my direct boss I have noticed he gives me a lot more personal project time because he knows it will benefit him in some way.

Frank

[Mr. ToughMoneyLove]

Regarding no. 2 on the list and Obama's public works plans, now would be a good time to learn how to repair and build bridges!