How do you gain job knowledge quickly? In our microwave world of expectations, many of us lack the patience needed to really develop into a seasoned resource in our profession. We want to snap our fingers and become an instantaneous on-the-job “know-it-all.”
The truth is that there is no substitute for hard work. Whether you take the traditional route of working your way up the career ladder over several years, or you engage in job knowledge acceleration, hard work and commitment will be your key to success.
If you still want to bite that bullet and take the short cut to job knowledge acquisition, here are some ideas for achieving your goal. One way is to ask a higher level person to be your mentor and let you shadow them on the job; another way is to become certified; or you can risk it all by taking on projects that you have no previous experience in. As you might imagine, there are pros and cons to each option.
Having an on-the-job mentor can prove very successful, especially if you are paired with a seasoned professional who is committed to facilitating your success. I’m not talking about a “work buddy.” A work buddy is typically on the same level professionally as you are. They give you insight into the organization’s culture like the unspoken rules or the workplace. They show you where the restrooms, supply room, lunch spots, etc. are. A mentor is a professional who is at least a couple of levels above your current level…someone from whom you gain inspiration and you aspire to be like in short order. Ideally, they’re willing to share what they know about the business with you. Understand, though that some people who worked their way up the career the traditional way may not embrace your shortcut to success and may not want to be your mentor.
Hiring managers in some industries or career fields hold professional certifications in high esteem. So much so that they may be willing to hire someone with the right professional certification over someone who holds a four-year degree. With that in mind, even if you already have a degree, you might consider pursuing your certification before grad school.
Taking on projects is a sure-fire way to get great in-depth exposure to the ins/outs of focused areas of your career field. It also puts you front-and-center and shows your employer that you’re ready for bigger roles. By leading projects you learn quickly and often by trial and error, or as I call it, “Trial by Fire,” which you will not quickly forget. This approach can make or break your career. The main cons to this method of gaining job knowledge are that you could find yourself in over your head; and if you fail, you risk loosing your superiors’ confidence in your ability to get the job done. Oh, but if you succeed, it will be so sweet because you will build credibility and the increased confidence of your superiors and you will be trusted with future projects.
So as always, “Career Search Success to You, Go Get Your New Job.” “Career Success to You.”
If you liked today’s video, scroll to the bottom of the page and leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.
.
