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Need to Boost Your Career? Five Ways to Become an Expert

By S. D. Farrell

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Published: 20Mar2012
Word count: 664
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In today's job market, there are more qualified professionals than ever before for each open position. Companies have their choice of industry leaders to fill every space above entry level. At the same time, many HR departments are devoting less time to reading resumes -- or being overwhelmed by hundreds every time an opening is announced. In this kind of climate you have to ask: What separates me from the rest?

If the answer is experience or education, you're ahead of some of the competition -- but are you an expert? Expertise, the kind recognized by the rest of your industry, is the key factor that can make the difference. But most people have limited contact with their peers in other companies. How can you create a lasting impression of expertise that will catch your future employer's eye? It'll take an investment in time, but it's worth it.

Here are some ideas on how professionals, especially in the tech sector, have created real artifacts of expertise that make a difference when you're in tough competition.

1) Write a Book: In the past, writing a book was a nearly impossible task. After the writing process, which could take years, you had to acquire a literary agent (another eight months to a year) and submit queries to big publishing houses. Most major houses did not accept "simultaneous submissions," so there went months and years as you had to wait for each rejection individually. Imagine doing a job search that way!

Now, experts have the opportunity to cut out the middle man. If you write a book, you can self-publish it on the Amazon Kindle within days of editing it. Self-promotion is also easier -- but make sure that you avoid "vanity publishing" scams and establish your own small press so that your book information doesn't list Amazon or its subsidiaries as the publisher. If you can get a few reviews and readers, you have a platform.

Today, a fifty page pamphlet by an expert can be worth more to readers than a 200-page book by an established author. When you publish on Kindle, many old distinctions between new and "establishment" authors disappear, so you can get started any time as long as you have a message people need to hear.

2) Start a Blog: The most important and easiest way to show expertise these days is to start your own blog. It should feature only content related to business, such as news, reviews, and your take on the latest in your industry. You will have to be careful to update regularly (even if only once a month) and portray a balanced perspective.

3) Record Podcasts and Webcasts: With more employers looking at credentials from outside your workplace, making professional podcasts is a "double whammy." For one thing, it shows that you can compose informative and interesting briefs on your industry. For another, it gives people the sense you're a skilled communicator who can present to an audience -- even though these are usually recorded alone in your home office.

4) Speak at Events: It can be tough to break into speaking at major industry conferences, but this isn't the only way to get some speaking credentials under your belt. In many cases, the public library will allow you to schedule and promote a speaking event. You will be responsible for getting people to come, though, and this can be a challenge.

5) Get a Master's Degree: In today's job market, a bachelor's degree in many subjects is little more than a glorified high school diploma. A master's degree has become the gold standard in showing intelligence, dedication, and insight. Even if a full M.A. or M.S. degree is out of reach, consider a graduate certificate from a reputable school. You can find many certificates available online from private or state universities.

S. D. Farrell is a Certified Advanced Resume Writer, career development author, and speaker. He has placed hundreds of job seekers during the recession, helping IT pros from entry to C-level achieve employment at Tech 100 firms like Google and Amazon. Get tips on information technology resumes by this author at his site, Career Excellence Advisors.

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