Don't let the economy curtail your career development

Hey, did you know that November is Career Development Month? That's OK, neither did I. But you can bet that the nearly 135,000 unemployed people in the Seattle area have not just career development but also survival on their minds right now.

For the lucky rest of us with employment, this is no time to get complacent--or panicky--about career choices. In a shaky economy, there is a tendency to avoid adding to the instability by asking for promotions and pay raises. Most just drop the whole idea of looking for a new, better job and hold on to their current positions for dear life.

Katy Piotrowski, a career coach and author of the "Career Coward" series of books, says that many people fail to realize that career advancement is still attainable, even when the job market shrinks. "Most of us have a tendency to get comfortable in our positions, not taking action until something happens, like the loss of a job or a promotion opportunity," she says. "Yet, if we get in the habit of taking even small career development steps, more and better career opportunities come our way, plus we create more security in our jobs."

In her latest installment in her book series, "The Career Coward's Guide to Career Advancement," Piotrowski offers some tips on how to make sure the recession doesn't prevent you from moving forward in your career.

Join some kind of professional association. Whether it's a professional group tied to your career or a local civic organization, these gatherings help you to meet new people and stay in touch with the latest developments. One of the better one-stop-shops to discover these resources in the Puget Sound regions is The Seattle Networking Guide.

Attend your profession's annual or seasonal conferences. Nothing is better to advance your career than mingling with your most engaged peers. It is almost always worth the time and expense to attend these meetings to learning about new techniques, exchanging ideas with colleagues and gather possible job leads.

Share your ideas outside of your job description. If you have another skill set that you enjoy, but don't always use, don't keep it to yourself. Submit articles to professional Web sites or start a blog so you can share your expertise with others. Put together an improvement proposal for some aspect of your workplace. "Even if your ideas aren't always accepted, you'll still be tapping into your talents," Piotrowski says.

List 20 professional successes you've accomplished in the past year. If you scan your calendar and computer files, you might be surprised to see how much you have accomplished that has gone unnoticed. Jot down a few key pieces of data about each success, Piotrowski says, such as timeframe completed, money saved and customers impacted. This database, she says, can be "a valuable tool for building resumes, preparing for job interviews and reminding yourself that your career is making a difference."

Continue to reposition your goals. "A year or two ago, you may have had a goal in mind for your career," Piotrowski says. "If you've already reached it, set a new goal. Spend some time reflecting on what will inspire and jazz you career-wise in the future, then jot down a new set of goals to keep you moving forward."

Writer and editor Randy Woods has filled out more job applications than he can count -- so you don't have to. Email him at hireground@nwjobs.com.