16 / 100
16
You’ve completed your college degree, have been hired
working a full-time job, and transitioning to being a
full-fledge professional. Now what? While you have
completed an important milestone in your formal
education, the real learning has just begun. As you
have probably figured out by now, the job market is a
competitive place and you find yourself surrounded by
others who are all wondering the same question, “How
do I get to the next level”? Don’t despair; the following
five practices will help you separate yourself from your
peers.
Mentor-ing
Seeing is believing! Humans are visible creatures in that we are fascinated by our visual senses. The
more the senses are engaged, the stronger the memory. Mentors serve as visual models that enable us
to see the possibilities of what could be and provide tangible evidence of success. Reflecting back on my
childhood, I can remember being intrigued by the airplane SR-71 Blackbird. What sparked my interest
about this plane was the fact that it did not look like any other place. It was sleek, black, and fast reaching
peak speeds of over Mach 3 (three times the speed of sound). At one point, it was the fastest manned
aircraft in the world.
Due to my interests, my parents bought me an SR-71 model to assemble. When I opened the box I was
overwhelmed by the number of pieces required to assemble the plane. Along with these parts came
a visual image of what the plane was to look like in addition to instructions on how to put it together.
After hours of laboring and numerous glances at the image on the front of the box, I was the owner of
an assembled SR-71 model airplane. Just like this model SR-71 airplane, when we look at what it takes
to be successful in our professional careers, it can seem overwhelming. That is why it is important that
you find a mentor so they can provide both an image and instructions on how to get it done. Not only
should you seek out a mentor but you should also mentor others. Pastor and author Andy Stanley states
that if you are one step further down the road than someone else, then you have something to share.
So, get to sharing!
Network-ing
Have you ever heard the statement, “It is not what you know it is who you know”? There is some validity
to this statement as organizations don’t hire people, people hire people. It is reported that up to 80%
of jobs are found through personal relationships. In a quest to answer the question, “How did you get
where you are”, I interviewed and met with people in my career field to determine how they were able
to get into their current position. Time and time again these individuals responded that it was through a
personal connection that enabled them to get the job over other candidates who were equally qualified.
In today’s job market, networking is essential to career advancement. I recommend taking a three-tier
approach when it comes to networking in which youmake connections professionally, in your community,
and web-based (Internet). Some useful professional communities include but are not limited to LinkedIn,
Toastmasters, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
The 5-ings for Career Advancement
HBCU Careers Magazine
By: Dr. Mike Ammons
Director, Raleigh-Durham Aspire Campus
North Carolina Wesleyan College