knowabundance.com

(Happy Monday! Today’s post is from Tuti Scott, our leadership expert.)

What an interesting time to be in the job market!  I have had the opportunity to speak with many people over the years about how to “create your dream job.” Now, more than ever, it seems that new practices and ideas for job search and creation are needed.

I spoke recently at Ithaca College (my alma mater) on a career panel and the following points resonated with many:

1.  Discipline, focus, and visualization are undervalued and underutilized. So much can come from follow up, follow through, and attention to detail.  Taking the time to reflect on your conditions of satisfaction and actually writing out the values you want in a work space helps to manifest what you want. The more people you share these conditions and values with, the more opportunities for visualizing and expressing the setting and context of where and how you want to do your life’s work.

2.  Follow the Four Agreements.  In short, (1) be impeccable with your word, (2) always do your best, (3) don’t make assumptions, and (4) don’t take anything personally (adapted from Don Miguel Ruiz’s book The Four Agreements). I love applying these ‘practices’ to personnel and work transition conversations.  They always seem to be so fitting!  This is especially true when speaking with groups of women where there may be an overabundance of estrogen creating the tendency of ‘taking things personally’.

3.  Demonstrate your balance of feminine and masculine power traits. These qualities are not assigned to either gender but merely reflect the ability to be inclusive, fluid, and exterior focused (feminine) as well as being goal oriented and linear (masculine).  Think about how in an interview you can express your capabilities or work efforts from a linear, driven space as well as defining yourself as a team player who is in tune with others and incorporates a variety of opinions and goals.

4.  Build relationships outside the traditional circles of connection. What if you made it a point to meet someone each month that was not from your college, your generation, your race, or your professional field?  And what if you asked them three questions about their life’s goals and shared yours?  I have heard so many magical stories of people who mentored across generations with a connection that was formed by someone taking a risk and inviting someone new into their dreams.

5.  Volunteer for a nonprofit. If you have time on your hands, reach out to the 1.8 million nonprofits that are in need of staff support and expertise.  Offer up your skills for a period of time to help with a specific effort.  Within this space you may have the opportunity to meet some folks (see point 4) that you would not normally interact with as well as build your skills and resume.

Some helpful sites for job searching;

USAJOBS.GOV (remember, the government is the largest employer in the country)

ChronicleofPhilanthropy.com (a breadth of opportunities across nonprofits and foundations)

WorkforCongress.com (jobs all around the DC area and not just in congress)

Idealist.org (great site for volunteering and job postings)

( Happy Monday! Today’s post is from Sande Smith. A powerhouse of knowledge about effective communications strategies for non-profits and fundraisers, Sande will be sharing her insights with us once a month. You can read her bio here. Thanks for joining us Sande! )

About a year ago, feeling frustrated with my own career advancement, I asked a friend and highly successful development professional for advice. “How did you come so far in your career, and in such a short time?” I asked.

She told me that one of the most important things that she’d done was join a professional association – the Association of Fundraising Professionals, in fact.

And when she went to programs, she didn’t just sit there. She’d talk to the person on her left and the person on her right. She’d ask them what they were working on, and she’d share her own dilemmas and ask for their opinions. Then she’d follow up with these new acquaintances and ask them to lunch. Oh, and she’d also offer herself as a panelist for programs that the Association was putting on.

“Isn’t there something like that for PR or Communications people?” she asked me.

Actually there was. The Public Relations Society of America. While I’d been a member, I had only gone to one program and I certainly hadn’t volunteered for anything.

Within a month of our conversation, I’d gone to a program, and offered my services as a volunteer for the program committee. After three months, I was having lunch with smart people that I’d met at the programs (on topics such as media relations, twitter & social media), and sharing with my own colleagues what I’d learned.

Within a year, I was on the board of the San Francisco chapter of PRSA as the VP of Communications, responsible for increasing the visibility of the chapter and showing other communications professionals how useful the information and networking available through PRSA is.

Because of my involvement in PRSA, my own career is thriving. Through the contacts I’ve made and knowledge I’ve gained, I’ve placed noteworthy op-eds for the Global Fund for Women. I’ve gained expertise that has led to me heading up the Global Fund’s social media and online communications function and I’m also doing the same for the San Francisco chapter of PRSA.

I have developed new relationships with people in the corporate, non-profit and government sectors, and most importantly, my love for my profession has been rekindled. The value I’ve received has been priceless – far exceeding the dollar cost of membership.

Ask for advice. Show up. And give of yourself. The benefits can be extraordinary.