Get a second opinion

If you are like me, your career is important to you. Deciding whether or not to apply for a job, sending a resume, going on an interview, or making a decision whether or nor to accept a job are all big decisions. The choices you make could lead nowhere or they could change your entire life. 

When considering a career move, find someone whose opinion you trust to be your sounding board. Make sure this person understands your goals and helps to keep you focused. Before making a move, consider the following:

How come you decided to update your resume? What made you decide to interview for this role at that company? How come you are considering leaving your current position? How does this new job fit with your current life? How does this new job fit into the life you want?

The closer you are to an actual job offer, the more that's at stake and the more your judgement could be clouded. Write down the answers to the questions above. Talk to your 'second opinion' about your answers. When it comes to decision time, you should have a clear path. 

What's the hardest career decision you've ever made? Who do you trust to be your sounding board? 

To learn more about career coaching, go to www.katekibler.com 

What do you want?

Defining what you want in your career is the first step in getting what you want. Unfortunately, many don’t take the time to figure out what they want in their careers. If you know what you want, you can focus on how to get there. You can outline a plan, make yourself present in the right meetings, and step up to where you see yourself in the future. You have heard the old adage, dress for the job you want, not the job you have, right? It’s the same idea for how you preform and how you behave. Perform in the job you want, not the job you have. Change your mindset so that you are already functioning at that level.

The bigger question is: how do you really know what you want? How can you focus on your future rather than getting bogged down in the day to day? Spending time understanding what you are good at, what makes you happy & what you want in your personal life will help guide you at understanding what you want in your career. Talk it out with a friend, trusted coworker or family member. Seeking the guidance of a career coach is also a great option for someone working to define his/ her future. A career coach can give you unbiased guidance to what it is you really want.

What have you done to define your future? How can you use your resources to determine what you want? How can a career coach help guide you?

To learn more about career coaching, go to www.katekibler.com

In the face of change

How people handle themselves in the face of change can advance or ruin a career. Leadership changes often in the fashion industry. In my career of 17 years, I have seen 9 different leaders. That means a leadership change has occurred just about every 2 years (Keep in mind I have only worked at 5 companies). Every time a leadership change was about to occur, the gossip would ramp up. People could feel it coming and start to panic. It didn't matter if they loved or hated the current leader. Strange factions would start to arise. People would begin to ‘position’ themselves closely with one leader or another.

My message to you: stay out of it. Do your job. Focus on getting the job done & getting it done well. Every leader will appreciate this. It doesn't matter if this leader is your boss or your boss’ boss’ boss’ boss. Just focus on doing your job and staying out of the politics. It will also keep your stress level low. If a colleague wants to come to you and vent their fears, you can listen but not join in the panic. Listening doesn't mean you have to chime in on their fears or even agree.

How have you reacted in the face of change? What can you gain/ lose by involving yourself in the office politics? How could aligning with a current leader help/ hurt your career?

To learn more about career coaching, go to www.katekibler.com

Leadership

There are so many different types of leaders in the fashion industry. I have found that a leadership style often is formed from education, professional experience, but most of all through what leadership you have experienced early in your career. Whether you are a seasoned leader or new to managing a team, understanding how you are viewed as a leader is just as important as the results you deliver. Some teams will follow their leader because of respect, while others get work done because of fear. Some leaders lift the team up while others put the team down. Some leaders give energy to the team while others take away energy.

What do you want to be known for as a leader? How well does your team respect you? Which leadership style would allow you to build a high functioning team? Who do you respect most as a leader? What could you learn from that leader?

Internal PR

Sometimes people get bogged down in doing their job that they forget how important it is to let others know what successes they have had. In smaller companies, your impact is usually clear. In larger companies, people in your division may be aware of what your success, but other divisions may not be aware. What if a role comes up in another division that interests you? How will other leaders know what a rock star you are if they don’t know what you have done? 

Sometimes your boss is busy and cannot see all of the great things you have accomplished. Earning a great track record is important, so how can you let others know about it without seeming arrogant? If you have a weekly meeting with your boss, why not share what happened in the week? What if you talk about the problems you solved and proactive steps you are taking? 

To learn more about career coach Kate Kibler, go to www.katekibler.com

Advocate

Being great at your job often isn't enough. If you've ever been passed over for a promotion, you know what I am talking about. Whether you like it or not, office politics can play a big role in whether or not you are promoted. Your direct boss can think you are terrific, but it's unlikely you will be promoted unless others agree.

Many people think politics and networking imply a lack of integrity. While in some cases that might be true, you don't have to compromise your integrity to get ahead. How can you ensure others see the great work you are doing? Think about who will advocate for you. Who sees you as a strong player? How are they positioning you in front of the right people? What are you doing to make sure everyone knows the good work you have done? If your peers and reports see you as a confident, inspiring, moral leader, they will start to follow and your value will be seen to others.

Who in the executive team do you have the strongest connection with? How often do you interact with that person? What can you do to show your value and regularly interact with that leader? When you build the foundation on these relationships, it will become evident who will advocate for you.

To learn more about career coaching, go to www.katekibler.com

Retail Careers SmartBrief

If you haven't seen this resource, it could be great for those trying to learn more about the retail industry:

Thousands of people have signed up to receive the Retail Careers SmartBrief. Have you? Last week, the most popular stories in the Retail Careers SmartBrief were:  How-to-get-hired tips from Nordstrom's recruiter Networking tip for introverts Retailers, LearnUp offer online classes for job seekers 3,000 of your peers read these stories because they signed up ( to receive our free, biweekly newsletter packed with career advice and insights. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get your career on track toward success. Take advantage of this valuable resource and sign up today to receive your Retail Careers SmartBrief each Monday and Wednesday.