to improve, expand & survive in this era & beyond...

Do you also like to improve yourself ?
Do you also wondering about the fuss about web presence?

I've been doing that and came across this book. It worths reading!

"Promote Yourself - the new rules for building an outstanding CAREER"
Dan Schawbel. 2014. Piatkus. ISBN 978-0-349-40196-6

After reading the book,
my attitude towards all the social media
changed 
from
"want to quit the tiresome bothering tasks with keeping up with social media"
to
"it is a necessity and part of the future survival skill"
"Make the most out of the www.  Ride the waves!"

11 Chapters in total.

I only recap & share some chapters here, kind of a partial book report.

Chapter 1.  14 new rules for career 
Great if my friends & family can also understand them.

1. Our job description is just the beginning.
2. Our job is only temporary.
3. We are  going to need a lot of skills u probably don't have right now.
4  our reputation is the single greatest asset we have.
5  our personal life is now public.
6. We need to build a positive presence in new media.
7. We'll  need to work with people from different generations.
8. our boss's career comes first.
9.  The one(s) with the most connections win(s).
10.  it only takes 1 person to change our life for better at each level/stage.
11. By 2025,   75% of the workforce will be generation Y.
12. Entrepreneurship is for everyone.
13. Think in terms of Accomplishments.
14. Our career is in our hands.
     Take charge of our own life & career. Keep learning & growing, too.

Chapter 2 is about hard skills and we need to

1, stay current/update. 2, note the skills gaps, 3, beware of globalization
4, beware of automation, 5, make a unique contribution add value, stand out.

Skills in demand in coming years:
Project management, Financial Management, Budgeting, Contract negotiating, Sales forecasting, Engineering, Proficiency in 2nd Language, Web Design,  Business writing,  Technical skills, Strategic Thinking & analytical skills.

    - Review & improve our strengths & weaknesses.
    - Let manager & colleagues know our skills.
    - Do what we love.
    - Be an expert.


Chapter 3 is about important soft skills & first impression.

The author wrote that Fortune 500 companies managers said
 employees who want to move up in careers need these skills, take note!

~ ~ We need to reflect, assess & improve our own soft skills :
Active listening, good at negotiation, confident in groups, work well under pressure, accept criticism, good time management, good at relating to coworkers & others,  accountable for my own actions, take initiative, good at resolve conflicts with others.

AND ...
Strong work ethic, positive attitude, good communication skills, good conversation skills, storytelling/presentation skill, time management abilities, ability to listen & speak to ppl & make ppl feel understood & respected,  good at reading people, ability to build relationship & connect on a deep level, tact when delivering a message, prose solutions, contribute to brainstorming, write well, problem-solving skill, be likable, self-confidence, can accept & learn from criticism, flexibility & adaptability,  empathy, integrity, sense of humour, EQ, fit in corporate culture.

We have to mind our body language, observe more, eye contact,
keep in touch daily or often with our managers(!),
mind our manners & dress the part.
(I hope my niece & nephew will learn that soon, too.)

To become a desirable indispensable employee,
the author told us the soft skills we needed
:::


Chapter 4 -  Social Media:

There are lots of useful hints & how to avoid pitfalls.
Many advice there ranging from which & what & how.

( After reading the key hints he gave,
 you can find many practical skills & tools on the www.)

I think this advice below is really important across all the platforms:

   5  Taboos we should not talk about:
   politics, class, race, gender, religion.
      Ooops.

Chapter 5 -    Gaining Visibility / publicity / popularity:


Take note of these 6 Rules   //  Self-Promotion

• Make ourselves worthy of being tall about.  
• Be well known for a specific thing. 
• Take responsibilities.  
• Find ways to expand our role. 
• Make others look good especially our manager;  
• Get fans, supporters and their endorsement.

Chapter 6 -
Skills which managers look for when they decide whom to promote.
That really worth reading!

To move up,  be a leader!
The skills needed are:

Becoming a leader in our organisation;
Relationship-skill builder.
Team builder.
Have character, energy, passion, charisma.
Dedicated to accomplish task/goals/missions/objective,
open, honest, straight forward.
Think creatively.
Well organised.
Be sensitive to the emotions of others,
Can resolve conflict.
Confidence; work well under stress.
Spot new opportunities,
Craft & articulate mssg to audience.
Relentless work ethic.
Inspire greatness in others.
Competent.
Able to ask the right question,
Find right answers ,
Make good decisions,
Be humble,
Take personal accountability for the success of our team,
Good communication skills.

Chapter 7 ... Relationships with Different Generations

 Demography affects who we are/will living  & working with (and for) ...
 we need to develop cross-generation relationships.

Generations born between the years:

Generation Z   1994-2010
Generation Y   1982-93
Generation X    1965-81
Babyboomers   1945-64.

( the book did not mention those who are born after 2010.
I googled & found that some people suggested
the term Generation Alpha.
Like my nephew, and the kids of my second cousins and other relatives...)


Generation Y & Z  ... will run the world soon!

They are very www-based.
To communicate better with them, we do need to keep up!!

For other stages in our career life, please read the book yourself when you need them!