Career planning is extremely important if you want to achieve success. Are you happy with your job? There are lots of things you can start doing TODAY to effectively move forward in your career.
Instead of keeping your head down and hoping for the best, make 2018 the year that you own your job. Check out 7 ways that you can improve your career this year.
1. Take control of your career
To move forward in your career, you must first know that you are totally in control .
It is important to work hard, but it is also important to focus on progressing. Talent and hard will only get you far – credibility and being well-liked will get you the rest of the way.
Focus on building relationships with the people you work with, and speak up about your accomplishments. You are a badass and intelligent women – shout it from the rooftops!
Ask yourself these questions: What is my dream job? Is it achievable? What can I do this month to move towards my dream job?
2. Set career goals for yourself
One of the easiest ways to improve your career is to set goals. Think about what you want to achieve during your career, and then write down some short-term and long-term goals. Once they are written down they will become real in your mind, and you will start to actively work towards your goals.
Ask yourself these questions: Where do I want to be in 10 months? Where do I want to be in 10 years? What can I do this year to improve my career?
3. Be in-the-know about your industry
It is always a good idea to keep up to date with the industry that you work in. Consider learning about new products and finding out who are the key players at your company are – it will make you an expert in your field.
Ask yourself these questions: What do I know about my industry? Are there any niche blogs or magazines that I could subscribe to so I can learn more?
4. Socialize with the experts
Networking is one of the most important factors in career progression. It is a great way to make sure all of the key players in your industry know about you, and good networking can lead to job offers and promotions. Find out what’s going on in your city right now – often hotels and other venues host networking events for different industries.
Ask yourself these questions: When did I last network? Are there any networking events that I can attend in the next month?
5. Get involved with office politics
Lots of people hate office politics, but getting involved doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. Workplaces are often political environments where decisions are not always based around merit and hard work. Steer clear of bitchy attitudes, but be savvy enough to find out how decisions are made and who is influential.
Ask yourself these questions: How well do I understand the politics of my office? How influential am I? Who is the most influential person that I work with?
6. Update your resume
It may seem like a boring and unnecessary task, but there are lots of benefits to having a current resume. Lots of people created their resume when they were young, and they haven’t given it a proper re-haul since. Make sure your resume reflects your personality and your brand so that it is an accurate representation of yourself.
It also means that you are always ready for any job opportunity that comes your way. Expect the unexpected – you never know when a great opportunity will arise!
Ask yourself these questions: Is there anything on my resume that is out-dated? Is there anything missing from my resume? Does my resume reflect my brand?
7. Know your worth
Lots of people put themselves down at work because they don’t want people to think that they are bragging, but this can slow down your career. You are a strong, intelligent problem-solver – and you should tell anyone who is willing to listen!
Many bosses don’t have the time to individually check up on each employee, so often hard workers can go unnoticed. Make sure this doesn’t happen to you by telling your team about your accomplishments!
Ask yourself these questions: What do I bring to my job? What was my last accomplishment? Did I tell anyone about it?
What have you done to move up in your career? Let us know in the comments below!
For more career advice, click the links below:
8 Tips For Staying On Top Of Your Emails
A Day In The Life…Of A Blogger