Tips on Getting Your Career Moving
Life
is happening right now, not a year or five years from now. It's
happening at this very moment. As the economy continues to rebound,
whether you’re happily employed or looking for a job, it’s time for you
to jump in the driver’s seat of your career and put the pedal to the
metal as you navigate your career path. Although life can throw you
twists and turns, it’s important to realize that your career is your
responsibility. So, how in control are you when it comes to your career?
To help you take control of where you’re headed, here are some tips on how to invest in yourself and take charge of your career today.
Build your brand. Yes, you have a brand – it’s you! It’s your identity. What are your values and passions? What part of your career are you most excited about? Knowing and understanding these will help set you apart from the competition. You represent and demonstrate your brand on a daily basis by the things you do. From your attitude to your online social networks to how you present yourself to how well you do your job, these form your brand. It represents who you are and how others perceive you, so make sure you build one you can be proud of.
Determine your goals. You will never know how to get where you want to go if you don’t know where you’re going first. So, if you have a dream, make a plan on how to achieve it. Don’t know what your dream is? Think about what you enjoy doing and where you see yourself in your career five or 10 years from now. Planning for your future can be a little overwhelming, so start small if you need to. Break your goal into the smaller steps it will take to achieve it.
Grow relationships. Networking is incredibly important in a career. Whether you’re looking for a job or you’ve been in your current position for 25 years, you can never have too many contacts. But, the key to remember is, regardless of how many relationships you build, be sure you have a solid foundation with these contacts by building quality relationships.
To build new relationships, start attending networking functions within your industry. Be purposeful in your networking. Try to attend events and training that will allow you to meet people who are experts in your field. Once you have made these relationships, grow them. For example, make it a point to drop someone a line just to say hello, meet up for lunch, or become connected on LinkedIn or other social networking sites. Meeting people can take some work, but the payoff can be big. When it comes to finding a job, it’s not always what you know that gets your foot in the door for new opportunities but who you know.
Develop your skills. There is always room to improve on current skills and learn new ones. You owe it to yourself to know what your strengths and weaknesses are. What skills are going to get you where you want to go? Research current job openings in your field of interest, even if you aren’t looking to switch careers, just to see what employers are looking for. Keep up with changes in your field of interest, as well as changes in technology. Depending on where you are in your job situation, take classes at your local college or vo-tech, volunteer for an organization you’re interested in, find an internship, or look for a temporary job to help you expand your skill set.
Check your attitude. You owe it to yourself and your career to believe in you. Are you confident in yourself and your abilities? Do you think you have what it takes to land a job or get a promotion at your current one? When you think well of yourself, it shows in your actions, and others notice. You will appear calm, cool, and collected. Be positive that you have what it takes to get the job done. Need some help in this area? Grab a friend, family member, or contact a career coach who can help you with some role playing to build your confidence level. Attitude can be a deal-maker or deal-breaker for your career, so be sure it sends the right message.
When it comes to your career, it’s up to you to take the initiative to get where you want to go. A job or a promotion is not just going to find you. You have to find it. If you want something, you have to take charge. Remember, it’s your career. Ask questions, take on more responsibility as it relates to what you want to do, decide what you want, and go after it full speed ahead.
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