Holidays a good time to take stock of career, skills, goals

I sincerely hope that by the time you read this article, you are enjoying some peace and quiet before the food and family festivities start. For those of you with children, enjoy the excitement of gift opening and then sit back and enjoy the happiness that surrounds you.

I know there are also those readers whose first activity in the morning is to relax with a cup of hot coffee or tea while they scan the news, especially the sports and financials. And anyone who has been keeping track of world events knows that global instability will still affect us, even in good old Winnipeg. But let's be honest, much of this type of news is rather confusing for the average employee.

On the one hand, those pessimistic business leaders predict Canada will slip into recession. The optimists suggest Canada will continue moving forward in a positive manner. Thankfully, in spite of several business closings and job losses during 2011, the predictions for Manitoba are quite positive. Still other futurists are simply neutral.

What's the average person to think?

Some employees may feel overwhelmed by all of this contradictory economic talk, especially because they feel so vulnerable. After all, what can an employee do to protect their job?

While you may not feel you've got much control in the big scheme of things, there are certainly several actions that can be taken to protect your career and/or to cushion any of the blows that might come your way in 2012. So, while today's thoughts are focused on Christmas celebration, tuck the following career tips away and review them over the holiday period. Use these tips to begin creating an invisible shield to protect your career in 2012 and ensure a sense of personal joy, accomplishment and happiness every day of the year.

Pay attention to the mood of your workplace -- Watch for closed-door meetings and a dip in the synergy. While managers may not share information, you can usually see concern on their faces. Ask questions if you can, but don't be surprised if specific answers are not forthcoming. At the same time, you must stay focused, work hard and stay positive.

Adopt the tried and true motto "be prepared" -- Ask yourself what you would do if you lost your job? Is your resumé ready? Do you have savings ready? Do you have a concrete backup plan?

Adopt a business perspective -- If your company is forced to downsize and lay off staff, understand that this decision is not personal, it is simply business. Hold your head up high and look at the situation as an opportunity.

Keep a positive attitude -- While you may have to continually work at this, be sure to develop and retain a positive attitude and good sense of self-confidence. Focus on your strengths. Write them down, post them nearby and read them every day. Be your own cheerleader.

Focus on the future -- Dream big! Imagine where you will be working, what you will be doing. Perhaps this is a time for a change of occupation. My rule of thumb is that the best job is doing what you are really good at and what you like to do.

Keep an open mind -- While you may have spent a good deal of your career in one sector, know that your skills are transferable to almost any workplace. Conduct a personal skills assessment. You'll be surprised at the number of skills you've gained from home, work and volunteer initiatives.

Create a skills-based resumé -- If your resumé is out of date, now is the time to review it and add more skills and accomplishments. Most people take themselves for granted so at the very least, updating the resumé is a great morale booster. Focus on skills and accomplishments and not your job titles.

Engage in cross-training -- Over the course of your career, build job security by engaging in cross-training. The more skills you have, the more jobs you can do, the better your chances of career survival. Make flexibility a key career goal.

Plan to be a continuous learner -- Job security requires that you stay current with all of the trends in your industry. Develop a new expertise. Upgrade your technology skills. Be the first to try something new.

Take up the challenges -- Be a risk taker by being the first to volunteer to work on new projects. You'll meet new people, learn new skills, and be engaged in work that is deemed important to the company. Employers like people who take the initiative.

Offer your opinion -- Think of tactics to reduce costs in your area. Make suggestions and offer your opinion. Think in terms of process improvement; identify which elements of work can be eliminated or automated. You have a lot of knowledge; don't hesitate to share it.

Increase your networking -- One of the biggest career mistakes is to stop networking. Networking should be a non-stop activity; people don't appreciate a sudden appearance only when you're on the job hunt. Develop meaningful relationships you can count on when needed.

Register with employment agencies -- Whether you're job hunting or not, it doesn't hurt to include your resumé in the electronic candidate databases kept by most search and employment agencies. Get to know your search professionals so they'll be there when you need them.

Manage your stress -- Stress at any time can be difficult. Develop personal strategies to manage your stress throughout the year, not just when a crisis is on the horizon. Be careful not to take out any frustrations on the friends and family around you. Get physical; exercise, exercise, exercise.

Take time for self-assessment -- Holiday time is also ideal for self-reflection and self-assessment. Ask: What does success mean to you? What is your life mission? What is your vision for life and work? What are your strengths? What are your soft spots? What habits do you want to change?

Do yourself a favour this holiday season. Find time for yourself and reflect on this past year of your career. Accept that the only true job security in our global world is the skills you have to offer. Therefore, take a long-term, purposeful view of career management. To put it simply, pay attention to your career every step of the way, every month and every year. Merry Christmas!