Have you ever considered the idea that you are interviewing for your next job every day you come to work? Everything you do throughout the day, week, month and year can help or hurt you when you apply for your next job, especially when you are applying for a promotion within your own organization.

Whether they will admit it or not, most supervisors will know whether you are the right person for the job even before you interview. As an employee in any organization you must do what you can do be the right person even before a promotion or new opportunity becomes available.

So, what can you do to be the person your organization or other organizations will want to hire? Here are a few things you can begin to do now to be that person.

• Go above and beyond your job description.

• Do the extra things that make your work excellent.

• Help others you work with to make their jobs easier.

• Be positive and have a great attitude.

• Follow up and make sure each project is completed.

• Be creative and take risks; try new programs or ideas.

• Do not be afraid of failure.

Even if you are looking for a position outside of your current organization, how you perform on a day-to-day basis could affect your opportunities elsewhere. The park and recreation field is very small and many of the professionals know one another and your reference or information provided by your supervisor.

It is up to you where you go in your career and what you will accomplish in your lifetime. Every day at work you have the opportunity to show others that you are capable of being a success or a failure. So, it all comes down to how much effort you put into being successful in your current position and proving yourself day after day to your superiors that you are a great asset to the organization and are the right person to move up in the organization.

If you might be considered for your supervisor's position or other internal promotions, it is very important that you continue to be yourself and not try to be someone else. If you suddenly try to do things differently, it may hurt your opportunity for promotion more than helping it. You may be perceived as someone who is campaigning for the promotion instead of someone who has already earned the position through hard work and dedication.

Having been in this position several times throughout my career, I know that it is very difficult not to try harder during this stressful time. But you must remain true to your core values and beliefs throughout the hiring process. Several times I did receive the promotion but other times I did not get it. Most often it worked out for the best for my career that I did not receive the promotion, but you always wonder, "What could I have done differently to be die one selected for the promotion?"

Another key to success—and to be seen as successful—is to be visible. One of my supervisors once told me to reveal yourself, do not conceal yourself. The point is that if you hide in your office, people's perceptions will be that you are hiding in your office and not out in the field were all the work is being done. You especially do not want your staff to think of you this way. How can you be more visible?

• Hold your staff meetings outside of your office.

• Schedule park and facility visits on your calendar.

• Take your supervisor on a tour of your facilities and programs.

• Volunteer to work at special events and programs.

• Join local groups or organizations such as Rotary and the chamber of commerce.

One of the keys to the mindset of interviewing for your next job every day is the impression you give to decision makers. Does your supervisors supervisor know what type of employee you are? Are you the right person to take your supervisor's position? Or, if your next position is director, does the board or city manager know that you are the best person for the job?

If you are lucky enough to have an honest

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Every day at work you have the opportunity to show others that you are capable of being a success or a failure.

Take Initiative! Be visible. Lead by example. Think outside the box. Set specific goals Change yourself first. Be yourself. Make it happen. Have confidence in yourself. Continue to improve your skills. Do it now! Do not procrastinate. Be a great communicator. Act on opportunities. Be a team player. Be positive. Be assertive, not aggressive. Always do your best. Never, neyer, never give up. Go the extra mile. Follow up and make sure the job is done. -by Joe DeLuce, CPRP

and good supervisor, they will give their own supervisor or board a fair assessment of your skills and ability to take the step to the next level. If your supervisor gives others a poor assessment of your abilities, how do you deal with the situation? Try some of the following suggestions without going over your supervisor's head or making your current supervisor look bad under any circumstance.

• Always be well-prepared for any opportunity you have to make a good impression on your supervisor or their supervisors.

• Volunteer to be on committees that would show your skills outside of your area or for another department within your organization.

• Do an outstanding job no matter what, so your work is always professional. Your supervisor will have only good comments to pass on about you.

• Be yourself and do the best you can. Do not try to be the person you think others would expect you to be.

• Don't make excuses for a mistake. Just work harder not to make the same mistake again.

So, how do you put yourself in the best possible position to be considered for promotions or outside career opportunities? Here are a few ideas.

Think about when you are hiring someone within your organization to replace one of your staff. If you have an internal candidate that works for you, you know the type of worker that person is and how they would do in the new position without even interviewing them. So, think about the type of person you are looking for and your supervisor may be looking for the same characteristics.

When I hire someone, initiative and personality are keys in the selection process. I am looking for someone who is going to get along with participants and their co-workers and a person who will take the initiative to get the job done. A lot more goes into the selection process but these key areas are very important in finding the right person. It is hard to do much to change your personality but they're many things you can do to take more initiative at work.

Parks and recreation agencies cannot afford to employ workers who simply wait to be told what to do. If your agency wants to be successful in the coming years, it needs staff members who will take action and responsibility for their actions. Most agency managers and directors welcome staff members who take initiative and they give these employees more responsibility, autonomy and authority in their jobs.

"If you have initiative, you don't need someone telling you what to do all the time." Many professionals hear this from their employees, that they do not need someone telling them how to do their job. If you show initiative, your supervisor is not going to tell you what to do if you are already taking on projects, making suggestions for improvements and going the extra mile to do an outstanding job.

Hopefully, this article has made you think about your daily performance and how it can affect your future. It may be a great time for you to step up and take the initiative on a new program or idea that you have considered. Who knows, it may lead to a new position someday!

JOE DeLUCE, CPRP
is the director of recreation for the Champaign Park District and has been a parks and recreation professional for more than 23 years.

18    Illinois Porks and Recreation