Job Skills Tune-Up

Keeping job skills current is essential to any serious career advancement. You see, the job market follows the same rules of marketing as the business world. If your product or service is not up to speed . . . if you can't meet the demand of the market . . . you're out!

That's why a routine assessment of your job skills is so important. An occasional tune-up will keep you current and highly marketable. Here are four recommendations to consider when weighing what you think you've got going for you against the needs of the marketplace.

1. Reassess your strengths, capabilities and assets. Do not rely on your work history for this. Much of what you've gained and accomplished are what we call "transferable job skills." This is the transcendent knowledge you've acquired which goes way beyond a job description.

For example, job skills like people managing, problem-solving, interpersonal dynamics, inventiveness, goal-orientation, loyalty, commitment, etc. In fact, these transferable skills are the ones an employer will be particularly interested in when you make your move. Now's the time to identify and list them.

2. List what you want to get out of your current or next job. Remember, making a job decision is a two-way street. It's not just about whether or not an employer decides to hire or promote you. You need to be very clear in your own mind what will make you happy. You need to consider benefits, long-term career growth, opportunities for advancement, comfort level with the team, relationship with the boss, etc.

3. Do your homework. This is the right time to get a feel for what's out there. Use Google, industry blogs, trade publications, association directories, product directories, Chambers of Commerce, etc. to narrow down the kind of industry or organization you'd like to be part of or advance in.

4. The very best resource for covering your assets and discovering your marketability are other people. Build your contact bank. List and talk to all the people you know who could be helpful to you . . . not to find you a job, but who could advise you, serve as a conduit to others, and help you with defining your goals, share information about industries and companies you're interested in .

These names aren't limited to friends, relatives, and neighbors. There are many others in your community who will be happy to assist you: religious leaders, business connections, your banker and financial advisor, political leaders, etc.

Covering your assets is not just a matter of being ready for any negative contingencies--like a lay-off or firing. Career advancement is a lifelong commitment. It occurs on the job as much as between jobs. So if you're heading for the top you must always be competitive on the job.

For example, a regular job skills reassessment gives you the ammunition you need to go after that promotion with confidence . . . because you've taken the time to understand what job skills you have that will benefit the organization. And you're not afraid to promote yourself to your boss.

Fortunately, there are some amazing alternative job search tools and non-traditional career advancement strategies that can help you cover your assets and stay current in today's sophisticated job market.