zintp (5/2/2012)
I agree with your post, but have trouble reconciling it with the Modern Resume, which suggests blogging, tweeting, and speaking about your professional life, in addition to the work you do for your employer.
Either I have done a poor job communicating, or you misunderstoond. The Modern Resume isn't about this and that and the other. It's about ORs. You do the thing(s) that work for you, and fir within your life.
I say "in addition" because I think most employers budget for and expect 40 hours of your time to be spent on the work they want done, and probably don't want to pay you on 10 hours a month or so to work on your personal brand, so this work bleeds into the home life.
True, but working on your career is your job. Lots of employers are willing to give some time, but I think most would balk at anything beyond 4 hours (10%). You have to ask for something, and work with your employer, and work on things relevant to them.
However you don't need 10 hours a month. You can do that, but you need to decide what works. I'd say you could blog in 15-20 minutes a week. You might not get a post done, but maybe you'd get 1/2 of one. And your skills will improve. You could spend 15 minutes a day somewhere, which is 10 hours a month. If you can't spare 15 minutes a day, then try for 15 every other day, or twice a week. You ought to do something, but make it work within your life and accept the trades. If you can't spend much time this year, try for next year. Or next quarter.
I certainly am all for a good work/life balance, and I am also for the Modern Resume idea, I just worry that it contributes to an improper work/life balance.
I hope not. Maybe I need to stress that at the beginning. The whole idea is that you want to raise your brand and the awareness of your skills, but it shouldn't infringe on the rest of your life much.
Doctors, CPAs, Lawyers, all have continuing education and make investments in their career regularly. Some do it with a class on weekends, some get work to pay, some read at night. I know I could find 10 minutes a day to work on something new, but not sure I could get an hour right now. I'd need to let something else go in my life, and I don't want to do that. I value the time with my kids and wife, and career comes after that. That's my choice, not yours. Follow the path that works for you.
The key is finding a way to fit things in, sacrificing a little of your time, not a lot. Then you need to accept that you will only improve your career by the amount of time you can spend on it. That's OK. Learn to work within the limitations, and the balance, that works for you and your family.