How far would you go to make yourself appealing to your/an employer?

[InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest]

I am the kind of person who will invest personal time to develop my career - I will read up about stuff in my own time, make and nurture connections using my social media accounts, network with peers, prospects and potential employers in my own time. Because if done well, this can all make me better at my job, get me a better position, and generally help me advance my career and make me land better-paid roles.

I have done well for myself, and I am convinced that the above has helped. But I know a few people who will not invest any 'personal' time doing the things I mentioned above, because, well, it's their personal time. But then complain because they don't move up the ladder (quickly) or don't get the better-paid roles.

I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts.

Um stealth brag good for you?

I will do my job well. That's it. My job isn't my life. I work to live, not the other way around.

It's worked for me...

@Bluntness100 - not at all. In fact someone said I'm a sucker for giving up my personal time for 'unpaid work.' So not bragging at all. Care to provide an opinion though, besides catty remarks? Or is that the boundary of your ability?

If people keep doing things outside working time it will become the norm and expected by employers.

Take teachers for example. They are expected to take work home and mark in their own time. It’s now the norm. Their goodwill has been taken for granted and is now expected. It’s just not fair or respectful.

Another example would be those jobs where you work unpaid to show how good you are and they presumably would take you on. But many employers took the piss and dumped the potential employee and moved on to more free labour from some other keen person. So i think it was banned. There is such a thing as minimum wage. Working for below that is illegal.

So I’d suggest it’s fine to do your homework to pass an interview and get a job but once in the job don’t keep doing stuff outside working hours for an employer. Unless you’re swatting to get a promotion in due course.

You will not do anyone any favours long term. If employers want stuff done for them then they should pay.

Love my job, I'm very good at it, I work hard at it, above and beyond, in fact. I'm fortunate to be well respected, well paid, etc.

However, my 'free' time is spent enjoying myself, relaxing, switching off from the stresses of work. You do you, but your description of 'making yourself more appealing to your employer' sounds, I don't know, a bit, joyless. There is more to life than work.

I don't do anything.

I will put in a bit of unpaid overtime occasionally if it's needed but generally it's not. And it's not expected, sometimes if there is something that needs doing to make my life easier the next week I might do it on a Friday night but only if I feel like it.

I don't do anything either but then again I am not particularly career minded. I have a half-decent job, I do it to the best of my ability everyday and then go home. Rinse and repeat.

I don't complain about not moving up the ladder or not getting a better paid role though, I have no desire the climb the ladder and take on all the additional stress that goes with the higher paid positions.

Some careers require a certain amount of making sure you are up to date with the industry, and some don’t. I don’t think you can generalise.
In my role, the company offers a few places each year to study for a qualification that’s relevant but not required. I’m doing it this year, they’re paying and will provide a couple of days of study leave but the rest will be in my own time. I wouldn’t have paid for the qualification and done it all independently though.

make me land better-paid roles
Are they better-paid once you work out your hourly rate based on all the extra stuff you do? I work to fund my free time, not work for free in my free time to fund my work

[quote InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest]@Bluntness100 - not at all. In fact someone said I'm a sucker for giving up my personal time for 'unpaid work.' So not bragging at all. Care to provide an opinion though, besides catty remarks? Or is that the boundary of your ability?[/quote]
That's a bitchy comment.

& although I don't often agree with her (sorry B) I do in this case. You sound actually insufferable.

Jolly good
I go in, do my job the best I can , go home and enjoy my family and free time
You knock yourself out though

In my job, when I have wanted to get a promotion or a new job, I have done extra.

If I hadn't done that I don't think I would have got a promotion. So it has been worth it.

In some jobs, obviously it's just a case of showing up, doing the work specified then going home when your shift is over. That's completely fine if that's what you chose to do.

People who stay strictly to their work hours, it's fine, but don't complain if you don't get promoted.

Yes I do those things. It has made me very successful. But I love my work and it’s a significant part of my life.

So I guess I’d do most things, provided it didn’t conflict with my own values. In real terms that means I’ve moved continent and country, I’ve studied for additional qualifications and I’ve networked hard.

I think most people do something most obviously many people tweak their appearance for work.

I also have a career not a job. It's a job I love . But no. I do not 'invest' in the way you do. I actually think you sound quite mercenary and a 'fake friend' . Only interested in relationships with people for what it can 'make' you in terms of well paid job.

I would be very careful with this agenda . You may find yourself with all the money in the world but that cannot buy you love and respect from friends family and colleagues.. and their will be precious few of those around if you continue to quantify everyone's worth to your burgeoning career . !

Mercenary? She doesn't sound like this at all! She sounds like she wants to progress in her career. Why can't she progress and also have the respect you talk about? The two aren't mutually exclusive.

Well, I have done - I did both my professional qualification and my degree in my own time. I read round my subject because I enjoy the technical aspects.

I don't network because I hate it, but I do go to some seminars and things in my own time (take annual leave). And I have done additional qualifications in my own time.

But people can be successful without doing that. And unsuccessful despite doing that. It's not a straightforward link at all.

People are just different, with different lives, different approaches, different levels of interest in their job and so on.

I'm not sure there's much point to discussing this really.

I'm doing a degree in my free time specifically in the field I'd like to enter. In the meantime I'm working a full time job. It does take going above and beyond to get ahead sometimes.

The pay for the ordinary folks going above and beyond is laughably similar to anyone else. They get thrown a k or 2 extra at bonus time. Some will achieve a senior management level, lose a horrifying chunk to tax and suddenly get made redundant one Monday morning.

Extra (life) time cannot be bought. Knowing what I know, and having seen what I've seen, of the "rewards" of working evenings and weekends, my time outside work time will remain 100% mine.

I despair when people continually want flexibility and investment from their employer but never flex themselves - I do the same as you OP.

In my profession it is common to be asked how you keep up with latest trends etc in job interviews so reading articles, attending conferences etc is necessary. Some of which will be done during work time but not all. In order to become qualified for more senior positions you would usually need to do qualifications/courses and that will require a lot of time outside work whilst studying. I definitely work to live rather than live to work but will also put in extra time where needed.

Let me clarify one thing: I am not saying I did those things because my employer had asked me. I did them proactively because I knew/hoped they'd help me. Employers shouldn't expect free work - not unless someone is in a senior role and being paid very well. In that case it's not really free because it's built into the salary package, really.

@SickAndTiredAgain

Some careers require a certain amount of making sure you are up to date with the industry, and some don’t. I don’t think you can generalise. In my role, the company offers a few places each year to study for a qualification that’s relevant but not required. I’m doing it this year, they’re paying and will provide a couple of days of study leave but the rest will be in my own time. I wouldn’t have paid for the qualification and done it all independently though.

I think that's fair.

@Animood

In my job, when I have wanted to get a promotion or a new job, I have done extra.

If I hadn't done that I don't think I would have got a promotion. So it has been worth it.

In some jobs, obviously it's just a case of showing up, doing the work specified then going home when your shift is over. That's completely fine if that's what you chose to do.

People who stay strictly to their work hours, it's fine, but don't complain if you don't get promoted.

This is exactly what I mean. I wouldn't do it unless I knew it would help me get a promotion or a new job.

I do all this too, OP. I consider it part of my professional self. I like my sector, and I like to be known as someone who has up to date and relevant, with something to say. It is done with an eye on career progression, and opening doors.

@SarahDippity Have you ever had someone think you're a bit of a sucker for doing so? I honestly think it's smart but then again I would, since I'm doing that! I was surprised to be called a sucker though!