作者是Osborn博士
他是位于坦帕的南佛罗里达州立大学的咨询教育学副教授及咨询教育学项目的咨询职业协调专家。

与各位共勉


Ten Ways to Increase Your Marketability

The current economy has made job-hunting a vital skill set for increasing numbers of 
people. But even in the best of economic times, it pays to understand what you can do 
to make yourself more appealing in the marketplace.
  
Current career trends suggest that an individual will change careers at least 7 times 
during a lifetime. This reality presents the opportunity to fulfill several of our 
aspirations. No longer do we have to choose only one road. Instead, we can visualize a
broader map, and believe that we will likely come across those other roads somewhere 
down the line.
  
Increasing marketability is a sure way of being more prepared for a career change. The
following are ten strategies for sharpening skills and increasing marketability:
  
1. Visualize. Set aside some time to think about where you are in life, and where you 
want to be. Are you happy? What parts of your career excite you, and what frustrates 
you? Where do you want to be in five years? In ten? Give yourself permission to dream.
  
2. Take Inventory. What activities are you currently doing, both on the job and in 
your leisure time? What skills do they require? How would you rate your skills? Which 
ones need improving? How could you sharpen them? Which skills do you enjoy using, and 
which skills do you wish you used more often?
  
3. Update your resume. Regularly update your resume. Visiting a local career center or
scanning current resume books can keep your resume looking polished. You also may want
to have resumes that highlight different skills. For example, you might have one 
specifically for management positions, and another for advertising positions. Also, 
keep hard copies of your resume close at hand and give it out freely.
  
4. Attend Workshops. Take advantage of workshops offered by your employer. Dare to go 
to a training session that doesn't "exactly fit" your job. For example, if your job 
requires computer skills, in addition to computer-related workshops, consider 
attending a workshop on leadership. If your organization doesn't offer workshops, 
consider taking a course at a local community college.
  
5. Cross-train. Make your current job more interesting and enhance your skills at the 
same time by varying your job responsibilities. Continuously hone your skills that are
transferable to other positions, corporations, and even career fields. Always be quick
to volunteer for opportunities to learn different skills.
  
6. Join committees. Committees are a great way to network and to improve skills. Vary 
the committees on which you serve. Chair a committee. Choose to be on a committee that
will challenge you intellectually, emotionally, skill-wise, etc. In other words, make 
a decision to grow.
  
7. Do something different. Been doing the same thing for years? Maybe now is the time 
for change. Try something you've always wanted to do, but for whatever reason, haven't
yet. You'll learn more about yourself, enhance skills, make contacts, and feel alive 
again.
  
8. Make new contacts, strengthen the old. Networking is the primary way people get 
interviews. View every opportunity as a networking one. The goal isn't to determine, "
What can this person do for me," but finding out what you and the other person have to
offer each other. Form and maintain relationships at work, through your family, in 
social organizations, and in your community. Remember, you will need to nurture 
relationships through staying in touch with your contacts, sending cards, be alert to 
interesting articles, and other "thinking of you" activities.
  
9. Volunteer. Volunteering can expand your network and enhance skills. It's also an 
easy way to try out some of your career aspirations. Considering a career change that 
will take you out of the corporate world and into the lives of kids? Try volunteering 
at your local school. There's no career risk, just a chance to grow, learn about 
yourself and give back to your community.
  
10. Create a Marketability Plan. Perhaps the most important suggestion is to create a 
marketability plan. Take a good, hard look at yourself. Ask yourself the tough 
questions. "If I were an employer, would I hire me?" Make a plan to increase your 
marketability. Which of these activities could you commit to trying in the next month?
Set a goal and a time-line, and get started!