Managing Your Career

When I was in graduate school, we were required to read a book called "We Are All Self-Employed" by Cliff Hakim. The premise of the book is that organizations have changed to compete in the global marketplace. Also changing are the the skills, backgrounds and experiences of the workers in the organization. Thus, the traditional employer-employee relationship has changed forever.

Hakim suggests that individuals should take a "self-employed" approach and take control of, or self-manage, their career. This self-managing concept has stuck with me throughout the 10 years since I've read the book. Why? Because it's about control and ownership. You cannot control the organization or the economy or your manager, you can only control yourself. If you don't take ownership of your career and improve yourself, who will? No one. Once you take ownership of your performance and development, you will quickly realize that your business improves when you improve yourself. You will discover new ideas, develop new skills or get answers to your questions, which benefit you in your current and future positions.

It is important to realize that professional development takes many shapes and forms. It's not just the industry conference that you have budgeted to attend each year, but also includes:

• Reading magazines, books and blogs
• Connecting with other professionals
• Sharing ideas, information and resources
• Investigating new tools and technologies
• Training programs - corporate and university
• Job shadowing
• On-the-job training
• Mentoring (or having a mentor)

You are probably thinking that your professional development plan is never going to get past your strict accounting and budgeting guidelines, but the reality is that many of these ideas are no cost or low cost to the organization. I attend many local networking events and a HR roundtable event for free. If you don't have free local resources, work with your local SHRM chapter to create them. Connecting and sharing, especially through social media, is usually free. If there is a cost, consider shelling out the cash yourself to attend special events.

I am attending (and am really excited about) HRevolution this weekend at my expense. I am investing in my personal and professional interest - blogging - and would not expect my employer to pay for the conference. Because this is part of my self-managed career, I'll pay closer attention, make more meaningful professional connections, investigate new technologies to help me in my job and learn about new blogs - ultimately making me a better HR pro for my Company.