But why not take the time to improve your career game plan? Read on to find out some ways to propel your career to new heights from your seat in coach.
1. Network.
This is an easy one. When you're crammed next to perfect strangers for almost 10 hours in the sky, you'd be surprised at how inclined people are to talk. Pay attention to those around you, and try to figure out what they do for a living. You could be sitting next to the perfect potential client, so don't be too shy to strike up a conversation!
In addition, you could meet someone who is also an attorney, which might bring about an opportunity to share career advice and experiences with one another. You could even meet a professional who can serve as a mini-mentor for the duration of your flight. The best way to maneuver a career is by examining others' careers, discussing strategies, and hearing about others' experiences and lessons learned. If the person has been in the legal industry for a while, you will want to soak up as much information and as many stories as you possibly can.
2. Make a List and Check It Twice.
Sure, your resume was probably updated when you landed your last job, but what about the upkeep that you need to do now? Most people don't jump at the chance to work on their resumes when they're content in their jobs. Consequently, the duties and experiences we acquire at our current jobs sometimes get diluted later because when the time comes to switch jobs, we have already forgotten about those valuable responsibilities that we had in addition to our daily tasks.
Despite what you might think about this, new career opportunities and layoffs happen very quickly in our job market, so it's important to be ready to jump at any time.
While you're on the plane, go through your regular job description. List all the duties that you complete daily. Visualize your entire day so you don't miss golden experiences and skills that can help you land a future job. These skills, no matter what they might be, can be applied to most resumes.
Next, think about the extra tasks that you have completed. Even if you took part in a unique project once, the experience can be taken with you for years on your resume. These days, many employers require their employees to multitask by taking on numerous duties that have nothing to do with their original jobs. Try to keep a running list of these duties throughout the year, but if you haven't done this, think very hard about it on the plane so you can get a good start. Although these extra tasks can be a drag, they make beautiful additions to any resume and give you more dimension as a professional.
3. Daydream a Little.
Sometimes just sitting and planning out some overdue career goals can be a huge help. In our fast-paced society, we often get stuck in the never-ending rut of "work, eat, socialize, sleep, repeat." Weekends are usually cluttered with errands and social commitments, so it's very easy for our planning time to get completely stolen from us.
You might be in a rut at your job now, you might be outgrowing your position, or you might want to accelerate your path to your ultimate career goals. Whatever the case may be, pull out a pen and paper on the plane and start creating a plan of action. Many of us just need to draw out some ideas and brainstorm to get the juices flowing. These plans may involve acquiring more education, participating in some training courses, getting some business coaching, or even building a stellar business relationship with someone who will carry your career and connections to the next level.
