A career is both a marathon and a sprint - a few tips on how to combine both. 

The commonly held wisdom is that a career is a marathon. Decades worth of endeavor. But no one trains for a marathon by running a marathon. They do short/fast runs, medium runs, cycling, swimming, lifting weights, stretching and resting.

In other words, building a career sometimes requires a marathon mindset, and at other times, a sprint mindset. 

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE VS ROLES

If there is one thing that we’ve learned over the past 3 years, it’s that the nature of responsibilities continues to change, outdating role titles and descriptions.
Technology research and consulting leader, Gartner, has found that ‘when tasks and responsibilities change quickly, as they do during business disruption, roles become less and less useful as a proxy for required skills.’ So, as you consider your next opportunity, assess what skills and experience it will add to your marketability, not just the dollars to your bank account. 

BE FLEXIBLE

Being clear about where you’re going lets you be flexible in how you get there. For example, many candidates have embraced virtual working and are managing and delivering outcomes and activity across state borders. ‘They’re finding it’s given them an opportunity to deepen their industry and domain knowledge, without leaving home,’ says Michael Donnelly, Practice Lead at Davidson Recruitment. 

INVEST IN COLLABORATION COLLABORATION

Invest in those you believe in and who believe in you. Successful investments take time. This is one aspect where adopting a marathon mindset will reap rewards. Sought after candidates, those in the industry who are well regarded will have one, maybe two, trusted recruitment professionals in their network circle—professionals that know your skills and experience and believe in you. 

INCREMENTS ARE IMPORTANT

Career success is added to by increments. Sometimes those increments are longer, requiring you to knuckle down. Your mindset needs to be more like that of a marathon runner. At other times, the increments allow you to lay valuable groundwork in a shorter time. Use the mindset of a sprinter for these opportunities. 

Where are you at in your career planning? Find your next opportunity here or contact us to start your career discussion.

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