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How do you develop your career while balancing a full-time job?

Career — 15 March 2010
I’ve been really curious lately.  I’ve been networking, volunteering, researching so on and so on but am having a hard time finding enough time for doing all the things I feel are necessary to build a career.

First, I should make one thing clear.  When I ask you about any type of career development, I mean in additional to going to work everyday and busting your ass in your current position.  We all should be doing that.  What I’m asking about is how do you take the game to the next level, outside of your job, to build a successful career.  How do you find time to network with other professionals or attend conventions or workshops?  There’s a very small amount of time left to do this when you are working an 8-5 job and I’m curious how you’re are balancing all these different things.

Share your thoughts below.  How do you balance your current job responsibilities and further building your career after hours?

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Share Your Thoughts

  • Wynner

    I'm so glad that you have been thinking about this too! Most days I feel like I'm spinning plates in a crazy circus. What I try to do is have multiple conversations on twitter during the day. Even ones that start with industry-related thoughts can lead to great long-term connections. Other than that, maintaining a personal blog, networking via Facebook, LinkedIn and the like, and just trying to be as open and curious as possible are my techniques.

    It's hard to go to a 9-6 job and fit in anything else. Maybe that's why the Flex Work revolution is generating such interest to our crowd.

  • Tyler Durbin

    Wynner, it sounds like we are very similar. I also try to hold several conversations on Twitter throughout the day. At night, if I'm not attending some type of networking/happy hour event, I do my best to hop on some type of chat. My favorites are #u30pro, #jobhuntchat and catching a lot of webinars from http://www.brazencareerist.com .

  • Wynner

    Oh I'm not familiar with those chats but I'll have to check them out!

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  • Thesavvygrad

    Leverage your lunch break is my advice. Instead of eating lunch with the same people everyday, reach out to those in the community or industry that share common interests. Instead of watching tv when you go home read industry magazines, or go to a quick happy hour with someone you admire. If building your career is a priority than make it that, and put everything else aside.

  • shane b

    great facial hair

  • jasonmollica

    Tyler,

    I can tell you that when I started out in my career, I made the time for anything that would help me in my career. Granted I started in television, so much of what I learned was on-the-job. However, I was a correspondent for a local TV entertainment/public interest show. There were days where I would go out on a story, then go to my other gig.

    You will need to learn how to say no, though. It's not bad. Just make sure what you are saying no to is not going to harm your career. We all need to say no every so often. It will help in the balancing act.

    The bottom line here is that if you want something badly enough you will find a balance. You may put in some late nights and early mornings, but the payoff in the end will be worth it.

  • http://www.genyjourney.com tylerjdurbin

    It's so hard putting in the late nights and early mornings as a young person (especially when those late nights and early mornings don't consist of partying with your college buddies). It might have something to do with instant gratitude. Just because you put a late night in doesn't mean that the next morning you're going to see the fruits of your labor.

    I often times have a hard time saying no. But, it's tough to do an exceptional job when you're over scheduled and over stressed. I work to find my “breaking point” and keep my activity a smidge below that. It puts me out of my comfort zone but soon enough that level of activity becomes comfortable and I can take it to the next level.

    Thanks for the comment Jason!

  • Adammarleymtts

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