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Do not wait to be noticed. Make it impossible to be overlooked.
This was my key message.
Here's the background story.
The last 3 days I spent my time at the We Are Developers World Summit - Tech Recruitment Summit, in Berlin.
It was my 1st time at the conference and I was mesmerised. It was grand, entertaining, vibrant, bustling with smart people and fun interactions.
I delivered a talk about a topic I am tremendously passionate about - that being: career development.
My argument is that, my presentation is not specific for Talent Acquisition to be fair…as in, it can be replicated for more or less any job family.
I know that I did this before, in my short stint with Thermondo GmbH, where I designed an entire Archetype for the Senior Engineering roles in their Engineering Job Family. So it can really be done...for any job profile, more or less.
(Let me let you in on a little secret - if you are a Talent Acquisition professional, if you want to help your business stakeholders REALLY be great at interviewing, you better get one of these done for them - but more on this topic…in another episode).
So, I promised those of you who asked me, after my talk, that I will make this file accessible, for free. And this is a short recap of my presentation, access to my Slides (with animation) and access to the Career Archetype blueprint documentation.
My intention with this guide is to walk you through the steps to develop a career archetype, promote your achievements, and secure the necessary support for your career advancement.
Crafting Your Unique Career Archetype
Why It Matters: Organisations with clearly defined roles and expectations see a 30% increase in employee satisfaction and retention (McKinsey).
Steps to Create Your Career Archetype:
Identify Skills and Strengths:
Use tools like Gallup’s StrengthsFinder to pinpoint your top five strengths.
Conduct a SWOT analysis to evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
Determine Your Values:
Reflect on your core values and how they influence your career decisions.
Engage in self-reflection exercises to uncover your top five values.
Align with Career Aspirations:
Set goals aligned with your career aspirations, focusing on one level above your current role.
Document these elements in a comprehensive career development framework.
2. Breaking Down Essential Skills
Why It Matters: Professionals who understand their unique value proposition are 2.5 times more likely to be high performers (Josh Bersin).
Steps to Breakdown Skills:
Self-Reflection:
Regularly evaluate your performance and identify areas for improvement.
Engage in honest self-assessment to understand your strengths and development needs.
Seek Feedback:
Obtain 360-degree feedback from colleagues, mentors, and supervisors.
Use this feedback to refine your skill set and address any gaps.
Document Progress:
Maintain a detailed record of your skills, feedback, and career milestones.
Update this document regularly to reflect your growth and achievements.
3. The Art of Self-Promotion
I wrote extensively about this in my 3 Part Series, called Navigating Career Development as a Woman.
You can read this one article, for more in-depth information about Self-Promotion.
Why It Matters: 85% of professionals who advocate for themselves are more likely to be considered for a promotion (Social Talent).
Strategies for Effective Self-Promotion:
Authenticity:
Be true to your personality and values in your professional interactions.
Allow your unique voice to shine through in your work and communications.
Consistency:
Regularly share updates on your achievements with your network.
Maintain a consistent presence in professional forums and discussions.
Delivery:
Use brag documents to record your accomplishments and their impacts.
Ensure your hard work is visible to key stakeholders within your organisation.
Example: During a major project, document your contributions and outcomes. Share these insights in team meetings, newsletters, and professional forums to highlight your impact and expertise.
4. Securing Sponsorship and Feedback
Same as above, the 3 part article will give you a deep-dive into the topic.
There is a 2010 HBR, 85 pages long research article under the title of “The Sponsor Effect: Breaking Through the Last Glass Ceiling“, written by By Sylvia Ann Hewlett, with Kerrie Peraino, Laura Sherbin, and Karen Sumberg.
Why It Matters: Individuals with sponsors are 23% more likely to progress in their careers (KPMG).
Steps to Secure Sponsorship:
Identify Potential Sponsors:
Map your stakeholders using a Power/Influence Matrix.
Seek influential leaders within and outside your job family to advocate for you.
Cultivate Relationships:
Build genuine connections with potential sponsors through collaboration and networking.
Communicate your career goals and achievements to gain their support.
Seek Regular Feedback:
Schedule feedback sessions every few months to review your progress. Do NOT wait for the bi-annually or annual reviews.
Prepare for these sessions by documenting your accomplishments and setting clear agendas.
Tip: Approach feedback as a valuable tool for growth. Regularly seeking and acting on feedback demonstrates your commitment to continuous improvement.
5. Driving Your Own Development
Why It Matters: Taking ownership of your career development ensures you are always prepared for new opportunities and challenges.
Steps to Drive Development:
Set SMART Goals:
Define Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals.
Align these goals with your long-term career aspirations.
Create a Development Plan:
Document your career framework, including your skills, values, and aspirations.
Use this plan to guide your professional growth and track your progress.
Stay Proactive:
Continuously seek opportunities for learning and development.
Be proactive in seeking feedback, mentorship, and sponsorship.
Example: Use your master document to set quarterly goals and review your progress regularly. Always check yourself against the 1 level above and / or the role that you are after.
Dear gentle reader (yes, I am still battling to finish the last Bridgerton Season, sorry 🙈), when you find this short review useful, or any of my other posts, Download the Free Career Archetype template and connect with me to discuss building your unique career archetype.
You can find the available files in my "Downloads" Page.
Let me know what other useful resources you found out there, that helped you navigate career progression, growth, lateral moves, etc.
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