BECOMING INDISPENSABLE IN YOUR CHOSEN FIELD OF CAREER
The choice of a career no matter how carefully selected is less significant to building it. A career as fixed and as calmly brilliant as it may seem is that profession you have chosen to do throughout your working life; so it’s more than just a job. Primarily, in choosing a career, you need to find out what you like doing and getting someone to pay you for doing it. Whether goods or services, be you an artist, a doctor, a teacher, a lawyer, an engineer or whatever it is you have chosen to do, you should never stop until you become a professional. It takes more than passing through the walls of an institution, you need personal development and capacity building; you have to make a conscious effort at being an expert or being indispensable in your field of career.
An expert is a person who has exceptional skill or knowledge in a particular field. To achieve this status, you need to put the following into consideration;
1. Identify
You need to recognize the need of your organization or the recipients of your services so as to be able to touch areas no one has ever touched, you need to explore your world of opportunities; what is the essence of being an expert if you are not providing solutions and improving the effectiveness of your organization. You have to do your research to discover prospects that have not been exploited and see how you can add value to life.
2. Develop
To be exceptionally skilful or indispensable, you need to do more than your contemporaries. As an ordinary person, you have to be ready to do extraordinary things. What makes you preferred to others is a function of one unique, special or extra thing you have to do. Developing oneself can be very difficult but listen! That’s the sacrifice you have to pay for greatness; act one step ahead of others.
3. Update
Sustain your passion for your profession by loving what you do and investing your resources in it. Spend time, energy and money, get trained, learn updated computer softwares pertaining to your field that can make you work effectively, get certifications from regulating bodies in your field both locally and internationally to boost your professionalism, attend seminars, take classes, read relevant materials such as books and magazines and stay updated.
4. Associate
Before you, are people who have succeeded in your field of career, establish healthy relationships with people who are already experts; exchange ideas, ask questions, keep learning, join groups or associations relevant to your field and before you know it, you are on top.
5. Sell yourself
This is a very crucial aspect of expertise. Some people have problems projecting who they are or what they are capable of doing. Nobody sees you in the dark until you bring yourself to spotlight and brand yourself; you need to package yourself and your ideas and let people know how much you can contribute to the world. You can achieve this through various means such as giving speeches, contributing the company newsletter, creating blogs or websites, participating in business oriented online forums by joining professional networking sites where business subjects are being discussed. . For example the Linkedin Network connects professionals in various fields, sharing of knowledge is being enhanced and avenues are created for opportunities; the Behance Network also enables you to showcase your work and get people of similar interest to recognize your expertise in your area of work.
