Book Insights: Next Move, Best Move by Kimberly B. Cummings was originally published on Ivy Exec.
The book, Next Move, Best Move: Transitioning Into A Career You’ll Love, by Kimberly B. Cummings, is a specific and effective framework designed to help guide professionals towards unlocking the full potential of their career.
Career transitions can be challenging for any professional, particularly for those at a more senior-level in their careers. Cummings acts as an expert guide to help equip professionals with the skills, expertise, and ability to navigate the increasingly complex world of work.
This book holds the knowledge and power to drive the trajectory of your career and an essential perspective to cultivate leadership traits in those who want to define their own career path.
Who Is Kimberly B. Cummings?
Kimberly B. Cummings is a career and leadership expert, who has helped thousands of professionals develop career strategies that actively advance their position as leaders in the workplace. Cummings specializes in helping women and people of color elevate their careers by overcoming challenges, earning more money, and establishing themselves as leaders in their industry.
Cummings has been featured in Forbes, Money Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Fox 5, and many other leading publications. She is a graduate from Long Island University and with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Counselling, she is empowered as a career development advisor in some of the country’s top universities and as a Diversity and Inclusion Professional in a Fortune 100 company.
Key Takeaways From the Book: Next Move, Best Move
In Cummings highly acclaimed book, she provides deeper insight for professionals in how to recognize their own unique set of skills and to embrace their full potential as a leader amongst their peers. Cummings achieves this by providing specific frameworks and actionable advice that professionals can implement into their career strategies.
Cummings takes a specific look at ‘career transitions’ and what it means for professionals at different stages of their careers and provides guidance towards decisions that will ultimately effect their career trajectory.
What is a career transition?
While many people think that a career transition simply means a transition from one industry into another, Cummings presents a more nuanced and profound definition of a career transition in her book as a shift in between any two states of one’s career.
Cummings defines a career transition “as any type of career movement, such as graduating from an under-graduate or graduate-level program and shifting to your first professional job.” This could include a lateral shift within a company, a promotion, a change in industry-focus, or even just a mental shift in perspective on your role within the workplace.
Take stock of your experiences.
Cummings provides guidance on how to take stock of your experiences, understand their significance, and use it to ensure strategic career moves. She seeks to help professionals find personal “career affirmation” by understanding that “my past experiences support my next, best move.”
Cultivate fruitful relationships that encourage career growth.
As Cummings says “relationships are still everything”. Despite the challenges of personal networking, Cummings highlights the importance of identifying personal gaps and cultivating (and maintaining) relationships that actively support career growth, as well a practical advice on how to successfully network.
Core values are the essence of happiness.
No one will ever find personal career satisfaction if they are actively working against their own core values. Cummings helps readers identify their core values and provides guidance towards finding a position or company that reflects those core values.
How to set long-term and short-term goals.
One of the greatest challenges to finding a strong career trajectory is to set specific goals with a specific pathway to achieving them. Kimberly B. Cummings shares advice on how to set both long-term and short-term goals that can help professionals unlock their leadership potential.
Building a personal and professional brand.
Once you have a strong understanding of your own unique gifts, professionals also need to understand the best way to express their experience and ability to potential employers. Cummings shares a deeper look into how professionals can position their personal brand to align with their leadership potential and career goals.
Use your voice for self-advocacy.
The ability to stand up for yourself in the workplace is a critical skillset for every professional. Cummings helps professionals understand that they have a unique voice that holds value in the workplace and how to leverage it advocate for themselves and their career.
Your Next Career Transition Starts With a Strategy
Your next career transition could happen at any stage in your career. However, the ability to unlock the full potential of your next move starts with a considered strategy.
Kimberly B. Cummings provides a specific framework for professionals to develop a 2-year career strategy that directly drives towards future leadership positions. The book, Next Move, Best Move, is an essential guide for professionals at any stage in their career and provides a guideline for understanding and utilizing some of the most important aspects of your self to drive career success.