I get this question a lot from engineers that are currently looking for a job. They ask me, “In addition to trying to find a job, what are some things that I should be doing while I am unemployed to further develop my career.”
Great question! Here are some recommendations on things that you can do to ensure that you are making the most of your “time-off.”
1. Develop your public speaking skills. I would argue that your ability to speak in public could very well be the most important skill in the overall development of your engineering career for multiple reasons. When you are a good speaker, it is much easier to obtain approvals from reviewing agencies, sell to new clients, make a case for your promotion to your superiors, and of course – land a job. In addition to these benefits, speaking in public improves your confidence and your communication skills. If you're wondering how to improve your speaking skills, check out an organization called Toastmasters International.
2. Have lunch with 5 of your most influential contacts in your industry. There are those people out there that you know, that know everyone. You probably met them through one of your jobs or through a professional society. Look through your contact list and call the 5 that you believe have the biggest or best network and ask them out to lunch. Explain your situation to them and ask them if they can put you in contact with anyone that might be able to help you. These connections will be useful throughout your career, not just while you are unemployed, so taking the time to strengthen them is time well spent.
3. Sign up for educational courses that may be helpful to you in your personal and professional development. These might include courses towards a graduate degree or a simple inexpensive community school course. Utilize some of your down time to improve yourself in ways that will facilitate your career advancement.
4. Get back to working out. You no longer have an excuse that you are “too busy” to get to the gym! Do some type of physical activity each day, even if it is just taking a walk outside. Being outdoors can help you clear your mind and refocus. Your physical being is important to your success simply because your body carries your mind, which is responsible for making all of your decisions. Your fitness and physical appearance are also often tied to your confidence and self-esteem, which will be critical during the interview process. You will have more energy to attack the job search process and your career overall.
5. Travel while you have the time and flexibility. You may not have the money while unemployed to do extensive traveling, but try to take trips to places you have been meaning to visit. Traveling outside of your normal environment broadens your horizons and gives you a different perspective on life. This new perspective can help you tremendously with your career and personal development decisions in the future.
I hope these tips help you to not only find a job, but to create an extraordinary engineering career!
This is a guest post by Anthony Fasano, PE, author of Engineer Your Own Success. Anthony found success as an engineer at a very early age and now writes and podcasts to help other engineers do the same. Visit Anthony’s website atEngineeringCareerCoach.com and subscribe to the top 3 resources Anthony has used to become a partner in a firm at the age of 27.