For students finishing up their college careers or even business people looking to succeed in their current jobs, no question is more common than “How do I stand out?”. As one of our readers, “John Con”, put it in one of our previous posts,
What do you wish you did/didn’t do in college that would help you succeed today or more precisely- what will make a person stand out?
As I am constantly being asked this question by other friends just finishing college and even older friends who are looking to improve or change their careers, I want to put my thoughts and experiences thus far out for communal cogitation. These are not so much the specific actions I believe are best, there is no specific combination of activities that guarantees success however, it is a set of goals that allow you to stand out and can be achieved through any number of paths.
1. Be a Whole Person
This isn’t just the usual tip career services hands out as you fill in the last few lines of your resume, it is an integral part of any interview. If you spend every spare minute working and studying rather than pursuing your other passions you will quickly run out of material for situational interviews. In fact, a number of the recruiters I have talked to actually frown on a straight 4.0 students to the point of being especially critical of those with above a 3.8. Don’t take this as an excuse to not study but, when you’re faced with a choice between taking part in a student organization or a committee and studying to make sure you get a straight 4.0, go with the depth of experience that external activities can provide.
2. Be Passionate
Notice it says “be passionate” not “show passion” or “feign excitement”. Those around you can quickly detect whether you are truely passionate about the organization you are working for or the position you are interviewing for. Once you are in a given role you need that passion even more to spread to those around you for motivation and to demonstrate commitement to your manager (without even trying because you believe in what you’re doing).
3. Be a Leader
Everyone talks about “leadership”, there are even majors and innumerable development courses for it but, it doesn’t have to be that complicated. Find something you are passionate about and learn what it takes to lead by interacting with people who have similar beliefs. Gather the thoughts, opinions and goals of the group, combine them with your vision and help the group achieve them by planning a strategy with them, not for them. Your passion to lead change, in any group whether political, academic, athletic or otherwise, is directly translatable to leading in the constantly changing corporate environment.
4. Be Reflective and Relative
Every single business out there is looking for improvement and advancement. This forward-looking progress is often the result of reflecting on the current process and interpreting it for improvement. As Revans states, “Lasting behavioral change is more likely to follow the reinterpretation of past experiences than the acquisition of fresh knowledge”. Take the time to reflect on what you have done, how you can improve it, and how it relates to other areas or people in your life.
5. Be Externally Aware
Having a basic knowledge of what is going in your industry and the business world in general can help not just in your interview but throughout your career as you encounter problems. Many innovations are merely the result of an externally cognizant manager applying a new technology or process in a way never considered before. Without external awareness, you will be less able to make these new adaptations and cross-applications. Get out there, read news, keep a finger on the pulse of the blogosphere for different perspectives that never make it to the mainstream and finally, read books, it’s the only way to get your head out of the whirlwind of up-to-the-minute daily news.
Brandon Henak is a gen-y activist and rolemodel for younger individuals embarking in their careers. He is completing his third rotation in the Information Management Leadership Program at General Electric out of Milwaukee, WI. He blogs his latest experiences and advice as a new Generation Y participant in corporate America at Newly Corporate.
