The Year of the Tiger

2010 is the Year of the Tiger (officially starting February 14).  There are certain qualities and abilities the tiger possess that you will want to emulate this year. 

ADAPTABILITY

The tiger, as a species, can be found in the most northern and most southern climates.  It is highly adaptable.  Flex your adaptability as you consider new climates and cultures of work- large to small, for profit to non-profit- expand your territory. Also learn new skills that will allow you to survive.

KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS

Tigers can't run fast for very long, therefore, they chose to ambush their prey.  They know what they are good at and they leverage that.  You too have strengths you can capitalize on.  You must start with knowing what you are good at.  

ACT QUICKLY & WITH PURPOSE

Cats stalk their prey.  They watch and quickly plan their attack.  Why?  Because they need to eat.  Be tiger-like as you investigate and plan your attack on target companies.  Pursue these targets with the determination of a hungry tiger.  Be persistent, be swift.  

BE "TIGGERLY"

Remember Tigger from Winnie-the-Pooh? Tigger was cheerful and outgoing.  Embrace these qualities. 

Honor the Year of the Tiger by emulating the best qualities of this well-recognized animal. 

As a member of a new community of resume writers and career coaches called the Career Collective,this post is one of many responses to ideas and concrete steps to secure your future in a changed economy.  I encourage you to visit other members' responses, linked below. Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective.

 

@KCCareerCoach, Career Chaos, “The Art of Being Gracious: Much Needed in Today’s Job Search,”

@MartinBuckland, Elite Resumes,  Career Trends and Transition 2010

@heathermundell, life@work, Kaizen and the Art of Your Job Search

@barbarasafani, Career Solvers, Looking Into the 2010 Careers Crystal Ball

@resumeservice, Resume Writing Blog, The Resume and Your Social Media Job Search Campaign

@kat_hansen,  Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog, New Year: Time to Assess Yourself and Your Career

@keppie_careers, Keppie Careers, Help for job seekers in a rut

@heatherhuhman, HeatherHuhman.com, Job seekers: 5 tips for making the most of 2010

@DawnBugni, The Write Solution, Ya, but

@ErinKennedyCPRW, Professional Resume Services, Advice to Job Seekers in 2010–learn Yoga?

@Chandlee, The Emerging Professional Blog, Starfish, JobAngels, and Making a Difference

@ValueIntoWords, Career Trend, Is Your Job Search Strategy a Snore?

@debrawheatman, Resumes Done Write, Making the most of a new year

@walterakana, Threshold Consulting, Starting anew – tips for truly managing your career

@careersherpa, Hannah Morgan: Career Sherpa, The Year of the Tiger

@WorkWithIllness, WorkingWithIllness.com, Dogs Can Do It, Can You?

@JobHuntOrg, Job-Hunt.org, Lifelong Learning for Career Security

@AndyInNaples, Career Success, What Are You Getting Better At? Make This the Year You Become the Best You Can Be!

@GLHoffman, What Would Dad Say, A Flash of the Blindly Obvious

Comments

[Kate]

My son's nickname is Tiger - unfortunately our surname is Woods !!

[Debra Wheatman]

Thanks for this post Hannah! I couldn't agree more. It is so important to recognize one's strengths and capitalize on them. Need help? Take the necessary steps to facilitate success. I always enjoy your posts. This gets right to the point.

[Miriam Salpeter, Keppie Careers]

Knowing yourself and being adaptable - such crucial points for job seekers. I agree that it is a compelling and motivating analogy. Thanks so much!

[GL Hoffman]

Using your "Tiger" metaphor but in a slightly different way, I would encourage all jobseekers to remain true to the principles they stand for. be genuine, honest and true. This always seems to be something we need to re learn, no matter how famous our Tiger might be.

[Barbara Safani]

Hannah,

Someone recently described another person to me as "being such an Eeyore" because he was carrying a lot of baggage and negativity. I think everyone needs to have a bit of Tigger in them to be successful. Nice post!