Get your career in the fast lane. Write a book. Seriously.
Posted by: in General work pimps
Do you think that all it takes to get promotions, raises, and job offers is confined within the four walls of your office cube? The title states it all. Writing a book is a great, albeit uncommon, way to get your name and reputation out there.
Now, before you cringe while remembering how difficult your English class was, give this idea a chance. Why?
Because if you write a book on a particular subject, you’re automatically branded as an expert. It’s that easy. It shows people that you know enough about a subject to pontificate about it.
It doesn’t matter so much whether 10 or 100 people have read your book. As long as you wrote one, most potential employers or colleagues will see that as a credibility boost. Of course, the boost will be much greater if you have thousands of readers.
Publishers don’t have to pick up your book either. You can have it self-published and do quite a bit of marketing if you really want it to sell. Some self-publishing companies you might want to look at: Lulu or Cafepress.
Don’t have enough mojo for an entire book? Try a few articles first. You don’t need to be a full-fledged journalist to get published in a magazine or newspaper. I know this because I did it. Find out which editor you’re supposed to submit entries to, read a few back issues, and send in some sample work with your resume. They’re not even going to bother about your college major as long as the work is good. In most cases, anyway.
If you’re concerned about your (lack of) writing skills, get some outside help. Whether it’s a journalist friend, a ghostwriter, or an editor, getting a professional’s perspective on your writing can improve the quality of your work.
Whatever you publish, just don’t forget to put it on your resume. Let it leave a lasting footprint on your professional history. Otherwise, it’ll all be forgotten.
So with all those ideas in mind, consider writing a book or an article to further your career. Who knows? If it gets popular enough, you’ll soon be grazing magazine covers just like Timothy Sykes did when he wrote “An American Hedge Fund”. I bet it’s much easier for him to get a high profile Wall Street job compared to an equally qualified candidate without a book.
Have you tried writing a book, magazine, or blog about a topic related to your career? How did it work for you professionally?
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