We are taught in school how to do today’s jobs instead of how to adapt to a changing world and acquire the new skills required to thrive tomorrow. Enter Dan Schawbel’s latest book Promote Yourself: The New Rules Of Career Success that helps you communicate your unique contribution so that you can make yourself indispensable.
Overall I give the book a 4.2 out of 5.
This book could be the catalyst you need to jump start your career. Markus Buckingham’s inspiring foreword may be worth the price of the book alone! In this book, Dan teaches his readers the power of personal branding, reveals important workplace shifts and provides the needed “how tos” to effectively promote yourself to next generation success. Below I boiled down the top 3 tips I learned from “Promote Yourself."
Top 3 Tips For Next Generation Career Success
1) Take In
- Be a continuous learner. For future success you’re going to need a lot of skills you probably don’t have right now.
- By 2015, 60% of new jobs will require skills that only 20% of the population currently has.
- Develop the skills that are most in demand and you’ll get noticed more.
- The more time you invest in learning skills that are in high demand, the more valuable you become.
- It’s easier to acquire hard (technical) skills today because of the number of websites that offer free training in topics that matter in today’s workplace. Soft skills such as leadership, teamwork, listening, coaching, etc. will become more in-demand.
- Top 3 soft skills managers are looking for in next generation leaders are 1) Can prioritize work 2) Positive attitude 3) Teamwork.
- 2 skills that many managers feel are in short supply are follow-up and preparation.
2) Take Ownership
- Invest in your digital presence. Employers see your online reputation as a direct reflection of their brand.
- You don’t have to meet someone to form an impression. Google has become the new handshake. Make sure it represents you well.
- Your social media connections can help you improve your productivity by giving you access to information faster.
- A lot of the opportunities that will come to you in your career will happen within social networks instead of in “real life.”
- Brand yourself as an expert, not merely an employee.
- If you’re not controlling your story, someone else will be.
- Be your own publicist.
3) Take Action
- Allow your action and hustle to draw attention to your unique skills and contributions.
- Look at your company’s management as a venture capital firm. Be persistent, sell your ideas to them, and come up with innovative solutions no one else has thought of.
- Execute on your side hustle. Nearly a third of employers are looking for entrepreneurship experience when hiring recent college grads.
- Give value before you promote yourself.
- Take every opportunity to become more visible.
- Taking risks is what builds successful careers.
Favorite Quote: "It is not the strongest of species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." ~Charles Darwin
Want more career insights? Check out my Next Generation Catalyst Podcast interview with Dan Schawbel by clicking here.
Question: How do you effectively “promote yourself” at work?
