The Three C’s of a Successful Career: Contacts, Credibility, and Competence

In today’s fast-paced and competitive job market, it can be challenging to land the job of your dreams and advance your career. Job seekers often struggle with finding job openings that suit their skills and qualifications, getting recommendations from their contacts, and standing out in a sea of applicants. But it’s not all doom and gloom. There is a proven formula for building a successful career, and it revolves around the three Cs: contacts, credibility, and competence.

Contacts: Your Network Is Your Net Worth

It’s not what you know, but who you know that ultimately lands you a job. The more contacts you have in the job market, the higher the chances of uncovering job openings that aren’t listed publicly. Networking should be a continuous effort throughout your career. Join clubs, attend industry events, engage on social media, and ask for referrals and references from your contacts.

Your network is your net worth, and cultivating relationships with people can open doors in ways you never imagined. Remember, the hidden job market is filled through word of mouth. Your contacts might know of an opening that’s perfect for you, or they might refer you to someone who’s hiring. Make sure everyone you know is aware that you’re in the market for a new job.

Credibility: Your Reputation Precedes You

Your credibility is the most crucial quality in getting recommendations and referrals from your contacts. It’s made up of your reputation and character, and it’s how others perceive you. Your credibility is built over time, and it’s based on how you behave and interact with others in the workplace.

Ensure that everything you do is consistent with the highest ethical standards. Never say or do anything that might be misconstrued as unprofessional or unethical. People are more likely to recommend you for a job opening if they’re confident that you won’t do anything that reflects poorly on them. Being honest, trustworthy, and dependable can go a long way in establishing your credibility.

Competence: Knowledge is Power

Competence is the foundation of your career success. It’s how good you are and how good you’ve been in your previous jobs that will determine how good you can be on the job. It’s crucial to continuously work on maintaining and upgrading your levels of competence through personal study and professional development.

Every employer seeks certain qualities in employees. Here are the top seven:

Intelligence – The ability to plan, organize, address challenges, solve problems, and get the job done.

Leadership ability – The willingness and desire to accept responsibility, take charge, organize, prioritize, and accept accountability for achieving required results.

Integrity – Being true to yourself, being honest with yourself and others, admitting your strengths and weaknesses, and being loyal to previous employers.

Likability – Being warm, friendly, easygoing, cooperative, and a team player.

Competence – The ability to get the job done, set priorities, concentrate single-mindedly, and separate relevant from irrelevant tasks.

Courage – The willingness to take risks, accept challenges, speak up and say what you think and feel.

Inner strength – The determination and ability to persevere in the face of adversity, even when the going gets rough.

To stand out in the job market, demonstrate these qualities in your interviews and your work. Show how you can be an asset to the company and how you can help them achieve their goals.

Final Thoughts

Your character, which is the sum total of all your positive qualities, has the greatest impact on whether you get the job you want. Your job now is to continue working on your character by practicing the behaviors of top people at every opportunity. Remember, your contacts, credibility, and competence are the keys to building a successful career. Keep networking, striving for excellence, and continuously improving your skills. With the right attitude, tenacity, and work ethic, you can achieve your career aspirations and earn what you’re really worth.