PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BRING YOUR BEST EVERY DAY While you may be interested in finding a new opportunity , make sure to continue to demonstrate your strong work ethic and bring value to your current organization . This will help you establish strong relationships with your supervisor , organizational leadership , coworkers , and all other stakeholders . You want to build a pool of strong references you can use when applying for jobs who will also gladly reach out to the organization you are interested in to proactively recommend you for the position .
This can be especially beneficial if your contact knows someone within the facility , so do not be afraid to ask them to reach out on your behalf . That outreach may be exactly what you need to propel your application to the top of the pile for further consideration . Additionally , be willing to do the same for your colleagues to show your investment in their career progression as well .
Finally , by putting forth your best effort within your current organization , this may open opportunities for an internal promotion that you had not even considered .
BECOME ACTIVE IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS You likely are already a member of national and regional professional associations related to your industry . However , being a member and attending the annual conference , likely , is not enough to truly access the full benefits of the organization . Push yourself to be an active participant during meetings and events , and , more importantly , sign up to serve on a committee or secure a position on the board of directors .
Being an invested member will help you develop new relationships with other industry professionals who work within organizations for which you may be interested in working in the future . When an opening comes available , you can reach out to your contacts to learn more about the position and organization to help you tailor your materials and evaluate your fit , ask them to serve as a reference for you , and see if they are willing to talk to the hiring manager to confirm your interest and qualifications .
ESTABLISH STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS While your industry peers within professional organizations certainly can be helpful in connecting you to job opportunities , there are other professionals who may also be very valuable . You likely already work with several vendors , architects and contractors on a regular basis . These individuals also have relationships with professionals at other facilities , including those who may have future opportunities in which you might be interested .
Make an effort to develop relationships with these industry professionals and stay in contact with them via email or LinkedIn after your collaborative project is finished . Again , you can ask these individuals to serve as references for you , and they likely will be willing to reach out to any contacts they have within the organization to share information about the quality experience they had with you and how you can impact the new facility . The key is to make sure they do have a quality experience with you , so they will provide a recommendation without hesitation .
CONDUCT INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS If you know there is a facility at which you are interested in working , reach out to contacts within the organization and ask to conduct an informational interview . This is a brief meeting where you ask questions to learn more about the person ’ s career path , as well as the facility and its operations . This is not a meeting to ask for a job ; however , it may be appropriate to share your resume and ask the person for any feedback .
Sample email text to request an informational interview :
Dear Mr . Satanta , I am currently an assistant grounds manager for the City of Springfield . I am very interested in transitioning to grounds management at a regional college , and was hoping we could schedule a 30-minute meeting so I can learn more about your career path . Would you have any availability in the next two weeks to talk ? Thank you for your time . Travis Clinton
After the informational interview , follow-up with a personalized thank you message ; connect with the person on LinkedIn ; and conduct check-ins with the person via email , LinkedIn , or an occasional lunch to continue fostering the relationship . Now you know someone within the organization who , likely , will keep you in mind if job openings become available , and you can reach out to them to express your interest and confirm receipt of your application if you apply for a position within their facility .
Here are a few questions you may want to ask during an informational interview :
What has been your career path , and how did you end up in your current position ?
What advice do you have for someone wanting to move up within this industry in this region ?
What do you enjoy most about your current position within this facility ?
What strengths and key qualifications do you look for in top candidates when you have open positions ?
Would you mind taking a look at my resume and providing any feedback ? sportsfieldmanagementonline . com January 2022 | SportsField Management
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