Have You Done a GUT Check?

With the global financial crisis starting to bite, companies have begun to look very closely at their core employment strategies — with a stream of layoffs starting to take place. If you find yourself in this situation, then I do hope you find a match for your skills, interests and experience on the SocialMediaJobs board. But regardless of whether you have a job or are looking for one, Jeremiah Owyang offers some very sound advice — do a GUT check.

The GUT check is a three step program which you should commence IMMEDIATELY. It includes:

1. Grow your network before you need them
2. Uncomfortable leads to growth
3. Tout your success

To grow your network before you need it means joining groups of professionals within your industry. It means attending conferences, coffee meetings, informal get togethers and the like. It means contributing to industry groups on LinkedIn. It means writing a blog and commenting on others.

You also need to take yourself out of your comfort zone. It is only when you are uncomfortable that you are able to take a leap in terms of learning and professional development. Find someone to mentor you. Ask for advice or help. Volunteer your time on a colleague’s project.

Finally, you need to be able to cleverly articulate your successes (remember, blogs are the new CV). Build your story. Explain who you are to people. Whittle it down to 30 seconds and practice explaining how you have grown throughout your career.

So what are you waiting for? Go with your GUT instinct. There is not a second to lose.