Week 10: Most Important Thing I’ve Learned

Throughout this team, I have learned a lot of practical things that I will be able to take into my current and future positions. The two things that stand out to me the most is being an active applicant and building/maintaining my network. The idea of advocating for myself as a candidate has always made me uncomfortable. By taking a step out of my comfort zone to showcase my skills and desires in a new position, could lead to new and rewarding position with a company that may be more aligned with my goals and values. Being an active applicant can look different ways, so I can choose a few ways that make me comfortable and gain visibility by potential employers. Additionally, I would be able to highlight my current skills and experience while communicating what I am looking for in a new position. By communicating this with a company before applying, it saves their time, and my own time, by matching values immediately or not. Regarding the network, I have always believed that building a strong network is key to finding new opportunities and potential candidates. The process that is discussed regarding building a network was extremely impacting. By committing a small amount of time on a consistent basis, you can get great recommendations and stay connected with people in drastically different industries. By creating consistent time to check in with different people in your network, it helps people stay relevant but also allows you to build a meaningful connection. While I have been focused on building my network, this gave me practical actions that I can immediately put into action. I have not approached building my network in such a process driven way. By implementing these changes into my life, I will be able to make myself more known as a candidate and be surrounded by a large network when I am searching for a new position.