How to act like the CEO of your career.

Read time: 4 mins

If you follow my YouTube, you hear me talking about the concept of taking control of your career frequently. And I think most people intuitively understand it’s importance.

But based on some comments I’ve seen on my YouTube channel, it’s obvious that the concept needs to be spelled out more clearly. So let’s discuss how to act like the CEO of your career in more detail.

So, what does being the CEO of your career mean?

Does it mean you should get a fancy boardroom, a pinstriped suit, and an executive assistant to fetch your laundry?

Not exactly.

Being the CEO of your career means you drive the direction of your career. More importantly, you do not allow a company to control you.

Let’s be clear: I’m not suggesting you start your own business (although I don’t hate the idea), nor am I telling you to give the middle finger to the corporate world. (but when the day comes that you can, it’s quite satisfying)

Rather, adopting a mindset shift away from victimhood to that of an owner.

But what does this look like in practice?

Now, let’s dive in.

Building strong credentials

To truly be in control of your career, you need the goods to back it up. In other words, you need to offer the best possible “product” to the employment market.

That’s why building the strongest possible resume is of utmost importance.

If you’ve got the same skills as everyone else, they’ll deem you expendable.

Therefore, study industry leaders’ job descriptions to see their preferences. Look at the LinkedIn profiles of people already working for those companies and in those roles. Notice any emerging trends? (AI comes to mind…).

Focus on acquiring the latest industry:

• Skills
• Certifications (relevant)
• Competencies
• Qualifications

Ensuring your resume is as solid as possible will automatically give you more power in the job market. And an edge over your competition.

Employers will demand what you offer.

Know your value/worth

True CEOs of their career do not underbid themselves, and they certainly don’t accept job offers from employers who don’t value them.

So, you need to know how to determine what value you bring and what an employer is willing to pay for it. (reference the previous point!)

Ideally, you’ll research salary and test the job market every year or two (even if you’re not serious about moving).

Sure, tools like Glassdoor and Comparably are great.

But the best way to know your going rate is by interviewing with reputable companies and SEE for yourself what they are willing to pay.

(Editor: plus, regular interview practice never hurts)

And knowing what other employers offer in your industry will give you a good litmus test if you’re falling behind.

Learn how to effectively market yourself

Having the best skills and knowing your value won’t do you any good if nobody knows you exist.

This isn’t meant to invoke a sort of existential crisis, but many people have a serious career-identity issue.

They don’t even know what they’re truly good at, let alone get others to notice it.

​READ: How to take control of your career​

Marketing yourself is (for some unknown reason) associated with negativity, but think about it…

Everything you do in your career is a form of marketing.

• Your resume markets you.
• Your interviewing skills market you.
• Your networking markets you.
• Your work markets you for the promotion…or your next job.

No matter what you do, you’ll always be a marketer first and foremost.

And if you want to reclaim control of your career, you must master your marketing.

Build a strong brand

Hopefully, you realize the importance of marketing yourself in your career.

Now the question is…WHAT are you marketing?

Everyone has a personal brand, whether they realize it or not.

If you’re the best mechanic in your shop and everyone comes to you for advice, you’ve built a brand as THE expert.

Or if you’re known as the Excel wiz and everyone comes to you to fix their spreadsheet formulas, that’s your brand.

Your current company may know your brand, but what about people who don’t know you yet? (you know, that company you’ve been dreaming of working for.)

How strong is your brand to them?

Leveraging LinkedIn to build your brand

LinkedIn provides an amazing opportunity to create and promote your brand to a wide audience, including hiring managers and recruiters for those dream companies!

Yet most people neglect LinkedIn – they view it as a necessary evil only to use for its job search function.

If this sounds like you, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to land great jobs.

Build a brand that employers want to discover, and I can assure you it will be one of the most powerful things you’ll ever do in your career.

Decouple yourself from the reliance on a single employer:

You’ll never be totally in control of your career if you rely on a single employer (or source of income) to provide 100% of your needs.

In fact, you’ll find you’re the exact opposite – all the power is in the hands of the employer.

• Don’t like what they tell you? Tough, you need them.
• Don’t like your boss? Too bad. Get a new job or deal with it.
• Don’t like what you’re being paid? Sorry, not sorry. Take it or leave it.
• Don’t like being a pawn? There’s a line of people wanting your job.

As you can see, unless you sign your own paycheck, you’ll be at the mercy of an employer. Therefore, you cannot be in charge of your destiny.

Remember SWOT analysis?

To act like the CEO of your career, consider a single source of income as a direct threat to your personal business of one.

The best protection you’ll have is to build multiple streams of income (notice I didn’t say side hustles or jobs).

Ideally, you’ll be able to cover your total monthly expenditures with at least two separate income sources.

The sense of freedom you’ll have when you truly no longer NEED them is as sweet as it sounds.

To act like the CEO of your career is to reclaim control.

If you notice a common theme here, it’s that you’re taking power back and centering it on you.

YOU’RE in demand.

YOU’RE in control.

YOU determine your path, not anyone else.

You are NOT the victim.

You know exactly what you’re doing & why you’re doing it.

And when you begin to look at your career like you’re the person in charge (the CEO, if you will), the world starts looking a bit different.

That’s how to act like the CEO of your career.

Whenever you’re ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:

1. If you’re still looking for traction in your career, I’d recommend starting with an affordable course:

​Resume Rocketfuel: This best-selling course will teach you the exact system I use to write your own professional-quality resume quickly and easily. (ATS-approved templates included!)

​The Ultimate Jobseeker Bootcamp: This A-to-Z guide takes you from job search all the way to offer negotiation, providing detailed, recruiter-proven strategies. Don’t leave a single dime on the table ever again!

​Unlocking LinkedIn: This step-by-step guide shows you how to set up a profile for maximum discoverability, techniques for accessing the hidden job market, and how to cut in front of the long application lines. Learn how to skip the recruiter altogether!

2. Gain extra personalized clarity with private 1×1 coaching ​
Have a specific question or strategy that requires more tailored help? I offer limited private coaching sessions. My clients have had too many “ah ha!” moments to count.

Visit my website, www.alifeafterlayoff.com, for more info.

Happy hunting!

-Bryan