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One of the biggest, if not THE biggest, regrets of my corporate career is that I didn’t see myself as the “owner” of my skills and talents. Nor did I see myself as a “professional brand”.

 Here’s why that was a problem…

When the time came to pick up and move on after 15 years at the same company, I was a bit blindsided and unsure of what the hell to do. I had no idea what types of roles I could transition into, what compensation I could expect, how to go about finding a new role (I hadn’t looked for a job in 15 years!), etc.

I had not spent time making contacts (aka: networking) or deepening the skill set I loved to use. I hadn’t paid much attention to what my skills were worth or what other industries I could easily transition them into.

I basically had no concept of my professional brand outside of the job I had been in. And the result of this was confusion, delays, uncertainty and way more anxiety than was necessary.

And I am far from the only person to experience this.

It’s easy to get comfortable at a job. In fact, for most generations it was encouraged to find one company and stick with it for a long time.  Those days have ended due to things like pensions no longer being in vogue and pay increases being so nominal that job hopping is the pretty much the only way to see a substantial increase in your income (or move into a higher role).

Even if you love the company you’re at right now, that can change faster than you think.

Mergers/acquisitions, changes to executive leadership, layoffs, market instability, etc. impact every industry at some point or another. Things can quickly go from great to terrible before you can type “resume template” into your Google search bar.

Hindsight being 20/20, here’s what I would have done differently and what I would encourage anyone working in corporate to do:

1. Understand what skills and talents you love using, which ones you like using and which ones you would prefer not to ever use again.

For the ones you love and like, focus on growing those and becoming an expert. Look into how they translate across departments and industries so that you have an idea of how else you can use them if you get bored with what you’ve been doing.

Do not define yourself solely based on your job title. Your skill set is bigger than that and, your skill set is what’s actually paying the bills. Own it.

2. Cultivate your “professional brand”.

I know, I know, “cultivating a professional brand” sounds something obnoxious you hear from YouTube influencers but hear me out. You are the only person with your unique set of skills and talents who can use them the way you do. You are also…YOU. And understanding your values, your energy, and your preferences will help you see how and, more importantly, where, you want to use your skills and talents.

If you were forced to go out and freelance/consult tomorrow, how would you present yourself to prospective clients?

Having a professional brand is what will help you find “your people” and weed out companies that aren’t a good match.

3. Network/Expand your circle.

I know, sounds like every piece of advice you’ve gotten from your relatives. But it doesn’t have to be in some hotel conference room with a ‘Hello My Name Is’ sticker on your emergency-use-only blazer.

Do not fall into the trap of allowing your current co-workers to be your only friends. Expand. Your. Circle.

Using LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. can help you make connections outside of your industry which can come in handy if you decide to pivot from one industry to another. Meet Up has events both in person and online for business and personal interests and can be a good place to start if you’re looking to meet people locally.

4. Know your worth.

Research pay, benefits, etc. Understanding your worth on the open market can help you with salary negotiations as well as what to expect if you change industries.    

At the end of the day,

you are the only one who has full ownership of your career. While you may decide to work for someone else and save yourself the grief of dealing with quarterly tax payments and having to worry about marketing, etc. you are still a one-person entity.    

Do not slip into job complacency and let it run the show for years on end. Make sure you’re investing in yourself, staying up to date on new information, and periodically checking to see if your compensation is in line with industry averages.

It will save you time, and more importantly, your sanity, in the long run.