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Managing Your Own Career Nancy Hatch Woodward / Human Resource Staffing Human resource professionals are focused on how they can help employees develop and grow in the company, but it’s just as important to pay close attention to your own career. The best approach is to consider yourself a free agent, which means continually assessing your skills, strengthening deficiencies, and marketing yourself to your company and/or prospective bosses. Those who expect companies to take care of their career needs will be left behind. The 2008 Managing Your HR Career Survey from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that HR professionals believe the most important factors for their next HR job are: strategic/critical thinking skills, leadership skills, interpersonal communication skills, and work experience. Managing your own career is easier when you take the time to assess and plan. Here are some tips to help: Your employer is not responsible for your career. You are. See what skills you have and what ones you need to develop. Determine what kind of position best suits your skills and would be one you would enjoy. See what classes/programs are available in-house or from outside sources that would add to your career. Create a two-year vision for your career. Devise a “Plan B” for backup. Build your “personal brand” to market yourself. Public relations can be very important. Spend time with people you admire and can learn from. The SHRM survey found that two-thirds of those responding said that supervisors, managers, and other higher-level professionals in a supervisory role were the most influential sources of HR career advice. Identify the informal power base in your company and build solid relationships with these people. Build and nurture a strong network of friends and professional colleagues. Finally, be someone people like and respect; if you are easy to work with and you and your work will be in demand. No matter what your accomplishments and experiences, it is your reputation, contributions, and relationships that make up who you are. Back to the library Reproduction of this article cannot be accomplished without the expressed consent of Human Resource Staffing. Don Schmitz is a popular speaker and writer on all aspects of HR and CEO of Human Resource Staffing. Don holds graduate degrees in Education, Administration and Human Development. Contact Don@HumanResourceStaffingInc.com 952 854 6040