Six Ways to Invest in Your Career

I write quite often about your career being your greatest financial asset, so I'm always interested to find new pieces on how to make the most of your career. Here's a new one from Yahoo that lists six ways to invest in your career. Their list:

Get a degree. Complete your bachelor's degree or get a master's degree, MBA or even a Ph.D.

Become certified. Technical fields, project management and human resources are just some fields in which certifications can help advance a career.

Learn cross-cultural communication skills. If you're working outside your native country and not speaking your native language, consider taking classes in accent reduction and American business etiquette.

Build your brand online. Own your own domain name and create a Web page to showcase your work, Wilson said. Keep updated profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn and other social networking sites.

Find coaches and mentors. It's important to have people to help you make critical decisions in your career.

Raise your professional profile. "By serving on a committee or a board, you will gain valuable, marketable leadership experience to parlay at your next job interview," Pannwitt said.

A couple general comments first:

1. I've been working on my own list of "how to invest in your career" and I hope to finalize it soon. I like my list better than theirs. ;-)

2. This kind of goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. Presumably, by investing in your career, you'll do a better job. And as you do a better job, you'll be rewarded financially for it. So we're "investing" in our careers to see a payback in higher salaries down the road.

Now for my take on their specific suggestions:

1. Of course. Getting a degree can mean big bucks versus not getting one. My MBA has dramatically improved my earning capability and been a key part in how I've been able to grow my income.

2. This doesn't apply to me, but I know it does in many fields. My belief is that we all should look at taking classes, seminars, and training as well as getting certifications on a cost-benefit basis. Ask yourself what it will benefit you (and your career/salary) both now and in the long-term, then pick the efforts that most interest you, lead you in the career direction you want to take, and give you the biggest bang for the buck (which in many cases is simply your time and effort as employers will cover the cost of many of these.)

3. Applies to a very targeted niche. Not sure why they even included it.

4. Good idea. Anyone out their own the URL for their name? (I do.) What have you done with it?

5. Getting a good mentor is a key part of making the most of your career. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of suggestions for getting a great mentor -- my best ones have happened by accident. Any suggestions on how to do this more on purpose?

6. Excellent idea! In fact, this is how I got my current job.

Comments

[jx]

I purchased the url for my name, but I've left it blank for now. I'd love to hear some good suggestions for what to place on it. Resume, etc.? I do not know.

Maybe add to #3 something like Toastmasters, or some other course or club where you can work on public speaking, business etiquette, and "soft" skills? The ability to speak well in front of a groups can really boost your own and others' confidence in your leadership ability.

[FMF]

JX --

Some ideas:

*Work experience

*Education

*Reviews of your work (quotes from formal reviews)

*Case studies -- situations you've been in and how you've handled them/been successful

*Relevant outside activities/groups (volunteer efforts/accomplishments, article you've written, etc.)

*Contact info

*Future plans/hopes/career path

*Publicity -- places where you've been quoted/written about

[Greg]

Degree\Certification: See what your company will pay for. My company paid for 60% of my MBA

Coaches and Mentors: Any place you meet people. School, church, committees, boards, volunteer work...any situation where you demonstrate by action that you are worth coaching and mentoring. The people you want as coaches and mentors are not the type to waste their time on someone who wants a "quick fix." But they can be extremely generous with their time, advice, and contacts to those that are truly worth the time.

JX: What do you want to communicate with your web site?

[Richard]

I have a website. I post projects I've worked on (mostly non-work related) and stuff I've learned.

The job I'm starting at on Monday was landed in part because of what I had on my website. It turned out that the head of the small company I applied at had some similar interests and had done similar projects when he was younger.

It gave him a reason to remember me, and gave us something extra to talk about during the interview.