Professionals:
A Strategy for Tomorrow

Suggestions taken from several workshops and presentations over the past few years. (note: some of the facts may be a little out of date).

Have you ever asked yourself the following questions?

  • What can I do to demonstrate my value to the organization? 
  • What can I do to enhance my marketability?
  • What can I do to remain personally competitive?

The New World Order
Workplace becoming computerized
Information becoming "interneterized"
Competition becoming global

Effect on Business
No money to waste on
non-contributing organizations
Companies can not be successful without the effective contributions of all of the individuals
Can not support any "professional" driftwood

Bad News
Announced layoffs up 42%
Layoffs will exceed 700,000
''The rate of churning will intensify as corporate America responds with increasing speed to new product introductions, global competition, and wall street's emphasis on quarterly profits,'' says Jeffrey A. Joerres, chief executive of Manpower Inc

Good News
Period between jobs has shortened

Bad News
55% of reemployed full-timers experienced pay drops
34% suffered cuts of more than 20%,
Those from ages 45 to 64 were hit with pay declines averaging 10%
All of the recent [pay] increases accrued to younger workers

From a seminar November 2000

What Would an Employer Be Looking for Today
Experience? Or potential?
Skill with new technology?
Where is the big growth in business? Internet
Where are senior managers weakest? Internet
Where is competition the keenest? Internet

Consider Competition
A web page designer since age 10
Expert PC and Internet user
Grew up with FAST changing information technology
Adapts easily to change and uncertainty
Has a well-used PC at home and PDA loaded with customized tools

What do I have that the competition doesn't?
Knowledge of business practices
Experience in multifunctional teams
A reputation!

WHAT CAN I DO?

Give management a reason to respect me?

Give coworkers a reason to value me?

Give my resume a better chance

How?

  1. Add functionality

  2. Add value

  3. Anticipate questions, concerns, discussions

  4. Attend meetings with other departments

  5. Be an emissary to community

  6. Be effective

  7. Be part of the team

  8. Be Proactive and anticipate needs

  9. Be professional [Casual dress day doesn't mean grubby]

  10. Become a value engineering contributor

  11. Become the office expert and helper on something useful

  12. Bring new ideas to the table

  13. Contribute to the bottom line

  14. Cost reductions

  15. Cross functional team participant

  16. Don't "punch out" until the job is done

  17. Envoy for company social and community policies

  18. Explain the impact your company has on the local economy

  19. Extra effort

  20. Find current information on the internet, and distribute it

  21. Get the job done

  22. Give peers something to take to a meeting that they can be proud of

  23. Have control of information

  24. Make a difference

  25. Make sure everyone understands how you contribute

  26. Mentor your peers

  27. PC expertise and applications

  28. Proactive 

  29. Professional business perspective

  30. Profitability concern

  31. Provide ideas

  32. Publication and layout skill

  33. Publish information within your company

  34. See, and help paint the big picture

  35. Service internal/external customers

  36. Share the burden of positive leadership

  37. Share expertise in software

  38. Streamline administrative processes

  39. Suggest improvements

  40. Take ownership

  41. Take responsibility.

  42. Understand the company "vision"

  43. Understand the regulations that affect your industry

  44. Use the Internet effectively

 

Professional Development 
A Personal Challenge!

 

I am learning to…

My long-term career goals are…

I will cite the following accomplishment in my next performance discussion...

The following benefits have accrued to the department because of me...

I am more valuable to my company that a well qualified job candidate because...

I am an active participant in this professional association...

My participation adds this value... 

By this time next year, I will be better at:…

What can I do to prepare for the worst?

  • Visit several job sites and learn how to look before you have to
    Links to job resources here
  • Look for the qualifications companies are seeking
  • Evaluate and compare your skills to other candidates & on-line resumes
  • Evaluate and hire yourself
  • Learn to write and submit an electronic resume
  • Practice interviewing with a friend
Professionals 
Develop their own 
Professional Development Plan
MLTWEB is assembled and maintained by Michael L. Taylor, C.P.M. 
Materials and articles prepared by Mike may be shared for purchasing education provided that this source is cited and no fee is charged. The rights for any other use are withheld.
Copyright;  Michael L. Taylor, C.P.M.
Last Updated: 10/06/2006