Moving Your Career To The Next Level

Career paths are a lot different now than they were in the past.  Gone are the days of staying at a job long-term.  These days, it's more common for an employee to find a new job after just a few years.

If you have been in the job market for a while, you have likely experienced a lot of turnover in your career.  This can make it difficult to appear unique to prospective employers.  Not to worry, though, there are plenty of tips on how to continue to advance your career.

During the Blackbaud Conference for Nonprofits in National Harbor, Md., William F. Bartolini, associate vice president for development at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., discussed some ways to highlight your uniqueness to employers:

• Find out what you are most passionate about.  Start by making a list of your best attributes.  Once you are done, share it with a trusted friend and a trusted co-worker to see what feedback they have.
• We all like lists, so why not make another?  This time jot down all of the accomplishments you've earned, the challenges you've faced, and the experiences you want to have.  This will help you paint a better picture of yourself when it comes time for a job interview.
• Create a short speech to use when at a networking event.  This is called an "elevator speech," and it should describe your experiences and advantages.  It should be no more than 30 seconds in length.
• Finally, figure out where you want to go with your career.  Do you want to just be involved with fundraising or do you want to do a little bit of everything?  Do you want to work for a small or big organization?  These are all questions you need to ask to get your career on the right track.