How to excel in the job you already have

You're employed; you want to stay that way. How do you excel in a job that you already have? Take charge of your career and put yourself in good hands your own! With today's competitive job market, it's important to keep your skills finely tuned to meet the needs of your employer. The job market is rich with talented professionals looking for opportunities, so keeping your skills timely and tangible is critical.

In light of recent economic events, who isn't looking at their skill sets and asking themselves, how can I be more productive (valuable) to my employer? First, you need to ask yourself, are your skills up to date? This is a perfect time to invest in you. Take a class, sign up for a degree program that meets your needs or simply attend a professional development workshop. There are a multitude of single workshops available, as well as degree programs, that fit the demands of working adults.

The training department at your organization also can provide a myriad of opportunities for continued education. Meet with your trainer and discuss what your goals are, your job requirements, the job you want. Then the two of you can sit down and craft a plan of how you can move forward toward that direction. Internal training can afford you the chance to learn from your organizational leaders and show your commitment to your own development.

When evaluating your skills, it's important to look at what you do well (strengths) and what you can do better (opportunities), as well as those things that keep you up at night (weaknesses). By doing this quick analysis of your skills, you can gain some insight into what you need to focus on in terms of skills. Once you've completed your skill assessment, you should also look at the trends within your industry. What are the environmental factors that affect the way your organization does business? Reviewing what other industry leaders within your field are doing is also a quick way to see the trends that can be developing.

Continued learning equates to continued benefits for the individual and the organization. By taking a class or workshop, you have the opportunity to learn with your peers, share experiences and gain insight into your own role in the organization. From an organizational perspective, you provide value and can act as a resource. Many companies are doing more with less and our roles are being expanded.

Opportunities for continued education are abundant! Open the paper and you can find networking groups, professional organizations and professional development courses. These classes are specifically designed to provide continuing education opportunities for those that are not looking for a degree but specific knowledge in an area like strategic planning, project management or accounting.

Professional certification programs are also another opportunity for continued education. For example, you could contact the Northern Nevada Human Resources Association to talk about the SHRM certification for Human Resources Professionals. Certification in project management, accounting, mediation and conflict resolution or as a call center professional can differentiate your knowledge and performance from the group. Seeking a professional certification or certificate in a specific job family also conveys to your employer a level of dedication by the individual to develop professionally.

If you're looking for something more aggressive, a degree program might be what meets your needs. With the variety of options between ground campuses and online classes, students can work at their own pace in an environment that works best for their learning style. A degree program is a commitment of time, resources and dollars, so one should not enter into it lightly.

Reviewing your strengths and weaknesses will help you determine if a degree program is appropriate for your needs. The campus option allows you to work with people from your community and share ideas, network and learn in a collaborative environment. At the University of Phoenix, classes are once a week, in a facilitative environment where the instructor and class work in collaboration toward weekly goals. Faculty are subject-matter experts and work in the fields they teach. The online classroom is a resource for those who travel and cannot participate in a ground campus program. Students in the online classroom need exceptional time management skills on top of their dedication and desire to improve their skill sets.

Finding the right fit for you will help achieve success with your overall goal. The northern Nevada community has many resources for those wishing to continue on with their education. If you are looking for a workshop, a class or a degree program, there are many different options for the individual. Many classes are available at night, on the weekends or even online. Imagine the possibilities of working virtually from the comfort of your own home while learning with people across the country!

The employee who reviews his/her skills and demonstrates not only willingness but also their commitment to keep ahead of the curve is attractive to any employer. The workplace is dynamic; therefore, people receptive to change are a must! Ben Franklin once said, "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."

Kathy Gamboa is campus director of University of Phoenix.