Jane Clayson Johnson is an award-winning journalist known for CBS News, ABC News, and NPR On Point. She tells a story of an interview with Phyllis Diller. Phyllis took Jane to her closet and showed her a collection of over 200 shoes. Each pair of shoes had a story; one pair was worn when she was on a USO Tour with Bob Hope, Phyllis wore a pair of brown sandals on a humanitarian trip, there was a pair of hot pink shoes Phyllis wore as a guest on a popular game show.
We have different shoes for different activities. Sometimes the shoes are old and worn; other times, they might pinch and be uncomfortable. Some shoes are too small, some are too big, and some fit form to our foot and fit just right. At different times and seasons of our life, we wear other shoes. For example, when I was a stay home mom, I went barefoot in the house and often wore crocs outside. When I exercise, I wear running shoes, and when I re-entered the workforce, my shoes changed to professional dress shoes.
As we journey down the path of life, each step we take takes us towards a destination. We will encounter smooth roads, rocky terrain, steep hills, and valleys. Every person’s path is unique. Research shows that our professional lives include up to four job changes, which means that we need to be constantly seeking ways to develop critical skills for survival.
- Write a resume that gets results
- Gone are the days of generic resumes. Resumes need to be tailored to the job. Even if you have no intention of leaving your job, it is good practice to update your resume annually. Your job duties change, and keeping your resume as current as possible will make it easier if there ever comes a time when you find yourself in a position where you need to seek a new opportunity.
- Leverage professional networks
- Take every opportunity to build relationships and network. When I re-entered the workforce after an 11-year break as a stay-at-home mom, it was the relationships I built through volunteering that opened doors. My first job back in the workforce came from a telephone call with a woman I knew from the woman’s organization I was a part of, and after a 30-minute telephone interview, I was offered a job. Before moving to the Magic Valley, I had an interview where they commended me for choosing the skills I learned while I stayed at home. Do not sell yourself short. Regardless of the season of life, you are in; you have valuable skills that you can and should highlight when you network and include them on your resume.
- Negotiate effectively
- Some people are great negotiators, and I have learned to have the confidence to ask what it is you want. When I was first offered a job at a Chamber of Commerce, I turned it down. I explained that the hours would not work with my family’s priorities. Thankfully the CEO listened and was willing to negotiate with me so that we agreed with hours that worked for the Chamber and my family. Too often, people undervalue themselves. There is so much more to the perfect job than money: work-Life balance, time off, benefits.
- Fine Tune /Add new skills.
- Success doesn’t happen by accident. Be sure to invest in fine-tuning your skills and adding new ones—explore personal interests. You could take classes for additional certifications. Learning a new hobby benefits you by helping you open your mind to more creativity. Volunteering provides opportunities in a variety of ways to gain new skills.
The steps we take daily to become better people impact our lives. Look for the good in every situation and opportunity. Each step we take, forward, sideways, or even backward, provides experience. Our destiny is not created by the shoes we wear but by the steps we take.
Cheryl Viola, Executive Director/CEO, MBA