How to Assess yourself Professionally
From time to time, it’s wise to assess your professional strengths and weaknesses. As tenure is gained, job duties change and additional skills are developed. Additionally, skills that are no longer utilized may become outdated, and it may be necessary to take continuing education classes to bring those skills back to a competitive level.
Professional strengths also change as employees gain more work experience. Theskillsthat an individual possesses in their first job, may not be as strong as skills learned later on. With experience comes a wide array of learning opportunities that create a newer, more diverse skill set.
Somequestionsto assess when determining which type of employee you are in the workplace are:
What leadership roles have you held? Do you volunteer your time for additional projects? Do other people, within your working environment, turn to you for guidance? Have you demonstrated your trustworthiness and dedication to your organization? If any performance issues have been addressed, have you fixed them? Do you keep your personal life separate from your work?
These questions are important and require an honest evaluation. It can sometimes take having a neutral, trusted person to review these things with. Knowing who you are professionally, is just as important as knowing who you are personally. It might be easy to recall hobbies, pet peeves and quirky habits that make us endearing to other people. We must take stock however, of what makes us endearing to our manager.
Do you offer insight, and suggestions, that match organizational goals? On the opposite side of the coin, do you tend to come off as the “office complainer” instead of being seen as someone who effectively continues to move the company forward? It’s crucial to know how we are viewed by other employees, as well as managers above us. Why? Our coworkers come to know us on a detailed level. They know what we are willing, or not willing, to do professionally. If we are seen as someone that lets a team down, or are often the last to be chosen for a project, there is a cause for concern. Any negativeattributethat is legitimately pointed out, should be addressed quickly, and in a professional manner.
Once you’ve clearly identified yourstrengths, and improved upon any weak areas, it’s time to take actively demonstrate your professional attributes. If you’ve displayed some strengths, but have been cautious about coming across as too eager, take stock of your company’s needs and consider volunteering your time in an area where you know you will excel. Organizations often have many projects, and a long list of things that need to be done immediately, but often lack the staff to accomplish everything that needs to be done. Many companies, in our current economy, are also unable to pay overtime. By volunteering your time, in your stronger areas, you diminish the negative and highlight the positive. Doing this is ideal if you’re considering a future promotion. When asked how you have gone above, and beyond, you will easily be able to recall how your work has been a helpful asset.
Finally, pay close attention to your periodic reviews that you have with your manager. Listen carefully to any suggestions they might have for you. If they do not offer any, ask for them. There is always something that an employee can do to be more valuable to the organization. A manager may feel timid about addressing this. If an employee brings it up, it shows initiative, a healthy respect for their position, and a willingness to be a great employee. Always keep personal issues far away from the office, and adhere to all company policies, even if other employees do not. This also shows that you have respect for your company, and a desire to keep your job. If you can honestly assess yourself professionally, you will go much further in the direction you want to go.
