It’s not just for Graduates

Seth Godin wrote an excellent post. It focuses on the graduating class of 2009 … those without a job but are looking.

Let’s face it. Times are tough. The competition for technical jobs reaches globally. You have a choice on what you can do with your time…you can invest it in yourself (without paying a dime) or you can waste it and become even less marketable!

Here is Seth’s list:

• Spend twenty hours a week running a project for a non-profit.
• Teach yourself Java, HTML, Flash, PHP and SQL. Not a little, but mastery.
• Volunteer to coach or assistant coach a kids sports team.
• Start, run and grow an online community.
• Give a speech a week to local organizations.
• Write a regular newsletter or blog about an industry you care about.
• Learn a foreign language fluently.
• Write three detailed business plans for projects in the industry you care about.
• Self-publish a book.
• Run a marathon.

I would add to this:

• Read a sales book (Jeffrey Gitomer offers many)
• Read a marketing book (Seth Godin offers many)
• Read You, Inc by Harry Beckwith
• Join Toastmasters (it will teach you about public speaking, leadership, organization, and networking)
• Develop a marketing strategy for yourself using twitter, facebook, linkedin, blogs, website

You can do this! Just turn off the TV, read business-type books, be internet-social in a business sense!

Oh…this advice isn’t just for graduates…it’s for EVERYONE!