Career & Job Advancement for Tomorrow

Career Advancement For Tomorrow

Employers that post a job opening are not just looking for a new person to join their organization today; they are looking for someone who will be there tomorrow.

While some employers have the resources to recruit candidates on their own, the American Staffing Association estimates that 80 percent of staffing clients feel staffing firms offer a good way to find people who can become permanent employees.

While there are many tools candidates use to find a job -- recruiting Web sites, traditional ads, or headhunters -- one of the best may be a temporary position.

"You become your resume in a temporary position by using your skills, positive attitude, and confidence to showcase your potential," says Robert Lyons, vice president for KellyDirect, the full-time placement service line of global human resources solutions provider Kelly Services. "Within one year we helped nearly 50,000 people find full-time jobs with our customers."

Anne Sennet-Cassity is just one example:

"My experience with Kelly Services was great training ground for a career and gave me a lot of good exposure to my field," she says.

Sennet-Cassity was originally hired as a secretary and through Kelly she was offered a full-time job with an aerospace battery company, which also paid for her college expenses through her graduation with a bachelor�s degree in Management/Marketing.

Later, when the company was acquired by a French corporation, Sennet-Cassity was reassigned to work on proposals and coordination of contracts.

Impressed by her performance, the company moved her to sales at their headquarters in France.

She jumped at the opportunity to live in France and was there four years.

Quickly rising through the ranks, Sennet-Cassity became the head of sales for a European division and returned to the United States as the director of the U.S. Sales Division, where she is today.

Her success is an example of how your education, training and experience are a preview of an employee�s potential.

But, career advancement would not have been in her future unless she continued to develop existing skills, gained new skills and was proactive.

Many organizations offer career planning resources to assess an employee�s current skills and career interests, and to develop a career action plan.

Still for some employees, how to advance in their career remains a mystery. Even though they have their degree, several years of experience, and feel they are ready for the next challenge, their employer may think otherwise. So, what could be the cause?

"When an employee is hired, they put their �best foot forward� to get the job. They dress well, have a positive attitude, and are confident. But, as time goes on they may become too comfortable and lose the edge that got them hired in the first place," notes Lyons.

To maximize your effectiveness and enhance the likelihood of getting promoted, Lyons offers these tips to help put your career advancement plan in motion:

Your demeanor speaks for you -- What type of facial expressions do you exhibit? Do you smile and emanate confidence, or are you timid and withdrawn? Without a doubt, the person who is smiling and is self-assured has the advantage of getting noticed.

Communicate well

Keeping direct eye contact when someone is talking shows you are giving them your full attention, are not distracted and have the ability to listen. Also developing superior presentation, influencing, and negotiating skills will get you noticed.

Impressions do count

Personal appearance is extremely important to career advancement.

Even in an era of business casual, an employee should always dress to match their organization�s culture and look appropriate for the business environment.

When it comes to casual office attire, it is better to "dress up" rather than "dress down."

Build relationships

A successful organization requires employees who can work together as a team and also bring their own special talents to a project.

Demonstrating the ability to work well with all levels of employees within the organization will help build relationships. In turn, your maturity and sound judgment will let them know you are ready to move to the next level.

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