Becoming A Specialist: You Can Be The Office Expert On Anything You Choose

Contributed by Sheri Graves

There are certain people in the workplace who seem to wear halos. They are held in high esteem by management personnel and are regarded as “go-to” experts among the rank and file.

They are the specialists. And, they usually earn more money than you do.

You, too, can become a specialist. All it takes is determination, commitment to prerequisites and the self-confidence to succeed.

Tall order, especially if you lack self-confidence. But you’ll feel more competent and confident once you get the additional training or education required to become a specialist within your field.

First, consider what specialty might interest you. It depends on your choice of career, of course, but broad generalities can apply to almost any workplace.

For example, there are aspects of law to any job. A real estate agent might specialize in probate properties or parcels designated for certain limited legal uses. A newspaper reporter might specialize in business law or statutes pertaining to government entities. Someone working in human resources might specialize in laws governing workplace safety or legal provisions for disabled workers.

There are many kinds of jobs that lend themselves to some kind of health-oriented specialization. A person working in advertising or marketing might carve out a niche by becoming an expert in promoting health fairs. A massage therapist might become an expert at rehabilitation therapy in cooperation with a chiropractor.

Some jobs might lend themselves to specialization in particular technology or software. Taking an advanced PowerPoint® tutorial might make you an expert in PowerPoint presentations, leading to advancement on the job. Learning computer programming or undergoing database software training might help you develop into a computer instructor, opening the door for you to become a more valuable asset to your employer.

Accountants have many areas of opportunity for specialization. One might choose to become an expert in tax form preparation. One might opt for a QuickBooks® tutorial in order to specialize in that particular software program. Another might focus on accounts receivable.

Assuming you’re already in your chosen career, specializing within that career can bring more money and more satisfaction into your life. To figure out where and how to hone your skills in one particular area, it’s a good idea to seek out the services of employment specialists who have their fingers on the pulse of your local job market.

Start by accessing your state’s web page and clicking on the department handling employment development. Do a search on your job title to see what the government projects for your future. Is yours a growing field where the job market is expected to remain stable? Is there a subspecialty that could keep you secure for now and perhaps make it possible for you to transfer to a more lucrative position later in an ancillary field?

The federal government’s Department of Labor also has a web page that provides volumes of information on job titles along with career specialties and subspecialties within those titles.

Sometimes it’s a good idea to hook up with a headhunter who can point you in the right direction. If company ABC is expected to launch a new product line, headhunters will know about it and can tell you what certifications or degrees will qualify you for a specialization within that line.

Career counselors also can be great sources of information. Find one through your telephone book or access the web page for the National Board of Certified Counselors (www.nbcc.org).

Your local community college or nearby university also will have counselors on staff who can help you choose which classes to take to enhance your employability as a specialist in your field.

Don’t spend your life laboring in quiet desperation due to an unfulfilling job or dreaming of a position for which you don’t qualify. Certifications and degrees do make a difference in the workplace, particularly when it comes to hiring and promotions. For today’s savvy worker, ongoing education and training is the key element in the persistent pursuit of advancement in position and pay.

PowerPoint is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation registered in the U.S. and other countries. QuickBooks is a trademark of Intuit, Inc., or one of its subsidiaries, in the U.S. and other countries.

About the Author:
Sheri Graves is a freelance writer living in Santa Rosa, California.

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