Job Search, Career Management and Learning

I am a learning fanatic. Whether that learning takes place on my own or in a structured setting online or offline, I revel in learning about new job-search and career-management techniques and technology, as well as myriad other topics such as personal branding, career research, business development, entrepreneurship, leadership skills, innovation, and yes – even distance learning.
Does an attitude that embraces continual learning help to optimize your place in a highly competitive business or job market? I believe so. In my case, it ensures that I can deliver the best career-management services possible (my mission) because I have absorbed (like a sponge!) cutting-edge knowledge. So, too, job-seekers and employed professionals at all levels can secure “career insurance” for a lifetime by staying up-to-date in their career fields or by gaining new knowledge in targeted new career areas.

For instance, I recently returned from a 3-day leading careers industry learning event: the 2007 Career Directors International Conference in San Antonio where I was both a participant and presenter (Online Identity Management for Career Success). This was one of the best careers conferences I have been to in quite some time – and so said many of the attendees. Just look at what I learned:

1. How Your Internet Presence Can Make or Break Your Career
2. Resume Workshop: Methodology, Branding and Style
3. Designing and Adding Charts to Resumes
4. Empowering and Leading Clients
5. Federal Resume Fundamentals: KSA’s the Right Way
6. Key Strategies for Working with College Students
7. Hidden (Online Career) Gems for the Career Professional
8. Top 40 Job Search Strategies
9. What’s New with Career Industry Mega Trends

Those are the educational-programming sessions – I also learned even more by networking, asking questions of other attendees, presenters, and vendors, participating in interactive and fun exercises, and simply keeping my eyes open to “best practices” among my professional colleagues from private practice, government agencies, colleges and universities, corporations, and non-profits. Was it worth the investment of time and money? Without a doubt!
In the next few posts I will highlight some of the presenters and provide some learning resources and tidbits. Stop back and pick up some learning! We are, after all, in a predominantly knowledge-worker world. What knowledgeable assets have you acquired most recently?
By Susan Guarneri and courtesy of CareerHub.com. The Career Hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.