“Knowing what you have to offer and understanding your limits is essential to turning a business idea into reality.” Caron Beesley
With the job market being competitive it is important to have clarity about who you are and what you have to offer to know which new work options are attainable for you. Finding a new career and then embarking the journey requires research. Explore the industry and role that interest you by:
• Make connections –
o Person to Person – Networking/Conferences/Political Luncheons/etc.
o LinkedIn – Twitter if it fits. (business black box, GSA
• Read Articles online and off –
o World View – Twitter, Inc.com, Success, Forbes, Harvard Business, Business.gov
o Local – Business Black Box, Greenville Talk, Greenville Business, GSA Today, Behind the Counter, etc
• Take Action -
You can actively pursue your desired career with the wisdom of people who are already in it. You only need three steps to become a resource in your field.
1. Connect Your Interest to Your Field Activists –
Training yourself to be confident in talking to your potential peers is not an easy step. Start by talking to people you meet about things you have in common – such as non-profits, hobbies, interests, location or local interest stories. Practicing finding common ground with strangers and talking easily with new people will help build you confidence. Try to find where your industry peers are going to be to mingle with them – Be creative in tracking your industry peers.
2. Learn the Skills and Connect with those who Have them -
When you find people in similar positions that you desire to have ask them if they could meet for coffee. Do not ask for work or tell them that is your motive for wanting to meet. Be there to learn and not to take advantage! Always be prepared to find out more if the opportunity for work comes up but be sure that you know what you are looking for and that you are not going to be asked to deliver outside of your real knowledge and skill level. Always ask if they know of others in the field that may be a valuable resource for you to find out more about the industry. Most people love being asked to share their knowledge and will be flattered that you thought of them as a mentor. Always send a thank you note and reiterate the value you found in them personally and professionally – don’t forget your contact information – Just in case!
3. Employment -
If you have taken adequate time to really make the first two steps, then you are ready to make yourself the walking resource you set out to be. Ideally, after you have mingled with potential co-workers and interview those already in the industry, you have found a place where you see yourself joining that world. If not, start over with a different industry – it may be that through this process you have realized the initial industry you desired is not really for you at all. You should plan a good 4 – 6 months of transition time if you are switching industries. If you have indeed found your niche in your desired industry, start pursuing interviews with your new-found knowledge and connections. Contact those that you have connected with over the past few months and let them know what you have done. Whether you have taken a class or two or self-taught – if you have really done your work – you can approach the interviewing process you’re your new industry knowing that you can be valuable to that company and showing them what you have done to make good use of your transition time. Be prepared to prove it and do not embellish!
• Hoover’s: comprehensive directory to company and industry information; in-depth coverage of companies; basic search information available for free: for example, find company overviews showing company subsidiaries or units, company address, phone, and Web site URL as well as key numbers such as yearly sales, number of employees, and key people; subscribers can get more detail
• CNNMoney: Web presence of Fortune, Money, Business 2.0, and Fortune Small Business paper magazine about business; news, markets, technology, jobs, personal finance, real estate; rankings such as lists like the Fortune 500 and the best cities for business
• Inc: for entrepreneurs and small business owners; outgrowth of the paper Inc. magazine; resource centers, Inc. 500 list, columns, technology, startups, events, Inc. TV videos
• AllBusiness: business questions and practical solutions; how-to articles, contracts and agreements, expert advice, blogs, business news, business directory listings, product comparisons, business guides, a small business association; geared to small, growing businesses
• Business.gov: US Government-related business information; businesses involved in US federal government services, information, and transactions; covers doing business with the government, international trade, labor, laws, the latest news, and finance; if you are doing business with the U.S. government or own a business in the United States, this site is a must-see; strength: authoritative, deep, and comprehensive coverage
• Others with good articles – inc.com, forbes.com, success.com, allbusiness.com, entrepreneur.com, CEO Express.com
Caron Beesley has over 15 years of experience working in marketing, with a particular focus on the government sector. Caron is also a small business owner and works with the Business.gov team to promote essential government resources for small business owners.
Business.gov -
• Start a Business
• Register a Business
• Loans & Grants
• Run a Business
• Business Law
• Business Opportunities
• Business Types & Industries
• State & Local
• Doing Business in your State
