Along the coast we know that June 1 is the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, so I pulled this one from the archives. Isaac had a minimal effect on us but you never know.

I’m writing this on August 29, 2012 as we ride out the storm named Isaac. The worst is not yet here but we are ready.

I did not witness a bunch of freaking out in prep for this one. Most people I know have been through hurricanes before and like us, live in a state of semi-preparedness. We always have batteries, flashlights, radios, a five-day ice chest, containers to fill with water, etc. The only things needed were gas and ice.

Did you catch Drew Brees’ message as the storm approached? “We’ve been through this before. Obviously, do everything you can to keep yourself, your families and those around you safe. I know we’re ready. We’re prepared for this. We have been for a long time.” Yes, we have been ready for awhile.

Makes me think of careers in the 21st century. You must be ready. Sometimes the opportunity is visible from afar and slow moving (like Isaac) but often the window is only open for a brief second and you have to jump at a moment’s notice. (Sorry for the mixed metaphors but you get the drift.) Once in my career I had only a split second to make a move. I was ready, I knew it and I’ve never regretted that decision.

Living in a state of perpetual readiness may sound exhausting but once you become accustomed to it, the security is reassuring and gives you strength.

Similar to a storm readiness checklist, here is my career readiness checklist.

• Up-to-date resume. Your resume is never finished. You should regularly be updating, tweaking, and enhancing it as you gain experience, develop, and discover your strengths. If you had to send your resume out today, could you do it?
• Knowledge of strengths. Build on them. If you are unsure of your strengths, consider doing some assessments.
• Knowledge of developmental areas. Choose one to work on. Create a specific, doable plan. If you are don’t know where to begin, contact me for a copy of my development planning grid. Or, consider coaching.
• Experience. Sometimes your job provides career-relevant experiences, other times you have to find them. Volunteering is an excellent source for developmental experiences.
• Regular networking* –  in-person. Attend your professional association meetings but also find other events in your community. Meetup.com is a way to find interesting gatherings and meet new people.
• Regular networking* – virtually. The usual suspects – Linkedin, twitter & facebook are the holy trinity for virtual networking.  If we are not virtually connected in some way, invite me to connect.
• Eyes open for opportunities. In your company, your industry, your community and online. Be ready for them.

None of us wants to go through storms, whether natural or career, but being ready makes it easier.

*Cultivating a large network takes time. Don’t wait too late. It’s kind of like looking for D batteries when a storm is already in the Gulf. They just may not be available when you need them.

 

What do you think?