It’s time to take steps toward a better career

Welcome to November, which is Career Development Month in the United States. Let’s look at ways to build or strengthen your career no matter how many pink slips are raining down outside. No promises, but this advice may even help you keep your current job longer or find a new one faster.

Here are four activities to build into your routine this month to help you choose, create, build or maintain your career.

Research and reading. For just this month, vow to spend less time being spoon-fed anxiety through the traditional media channels and more time absorbing new ideas that might help you move forward. Suggestions:

» Use the library or iTunes to select something more edifying for your commute. You’ll find everything from recordings on how to search for employment or work on a team to instructions for building a car.

AMY LINDGREN

WORKING STRATEGIES

» Change the information that automatically comes to your computer. Thousands of Web sites include a free subscription option (an RSS feed) to send you information automatically. Choose some that will keep you informed on trends in your field.

» Borrow books or magazines that cover topics in your areas of interest and thumb through them while waiting at the doctor or the kids’ soccer practice.

Networking. Here’s your assignment: One individual meeting and one group session within the next four weeks. The individual meeting could be with a current or former co-worker, someone in a field you’d like to explore or even a trusted friend who has good contacts. The group session could be a job search group or a professional meeting, so long as you commit to circulating once you’re there.

Professional development. Here’s a longer-term assignment. Grab a calendar that shows the end of this year and all of next year. Now start feeding your current or desired job title into search engines on the Internet.

You’re looking for professional associations, classes, certificate programs, lectures, conferences … any event that you can consider attending over the next year that will help you in your work. Use the calendar to stay organized, but also to challenge yourself. If you want to kick into high gear, there should be something on every month, while a more livable schedule would include quarterly activities.

Skill building. Concentrate on the “Big Four” universal work skills: writing, computing, presenting and selling. Consider everything from online training to classes you can audit for no credit at local colleges. Try to squeeze in at least one offering before the end of the year while your resolve is fresh.

- Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecaree rservice.com or at 1071 W. Seventh St., St. Paul, MN 55102.