Growing in our careers is something we all strive to do. Whether it is moving on to the next level in your career or changing companies, we all look for strategies we can use to get to the next level. Career changes for everyone are different, some people want to earn more money or want more work-life balance to be available to them. No matter the reason, it is important when planning your career that you take into consideration aspects of your career that meet your personal needs, values, and goals.
Let’s look at a few steps you can take to advance in your career:
Networking – Networking is key if you want to advance your career. It is important to get out there and show others what you are all about. Not only can you meet interesting people, but you might make friends along the way. In my career during the last 6 years, most of my job opportunities have come from a network that I started to build up over the years. While you can still get jobs the conventional way, it is important to get out and build relationships with people in your community and city.
Take the analogy of an iceberg. Most of what you see at the top of the iceberg is the smallest part. The bottom part you don’t see is where most of the opportunities live. Networking is similar. Through networking, you will be able to access the bottom of the iceberg.
Don’t know where to start networking? Try using websites like MeetUp, LinkedIn, and networking apps. There are tons if you search on your phone! These will allow you to meet people and network to gain opportunities. Get started today! It all starts with a conversation!
Have a Vision – What does success look like for you? Every one of us has a different perception of what success looks like for us. Writing down your vision of where you want to be in 12 or 24 months is a great place to start. You can also create a vision board. (Tip: Don’t have time to cut and paste a vision board with paper? Create one in a word document that you can access on your computer for motivation.)
When creating your vision, it is important to remember to be creative and write everything down, even if the dream seems too big right now. This is okay. You can work towards those ideas through careful planning.
The most important aspect of creating a vision is to define what success looks like to you within the realm of your values. Before creating your vision, determine what it is that you value in life and create a plan based on these thoughts. This is important because if you are in a place where you don’t feel your values are being honored, it can get very uncomfortable. Come up with ideas and be creative in this process.
Get a Mentor – If you follow my blog, you would have noticed that I have spoken about the topic of having a mentor. Mentors can provide you with valuable insight into your career and can help guide you in making decisions. Mentors can act like a sounding board, as you learn from their wisdom about your career journey. I have had a mentor in both my HR and entrepreneurship journey. Often, they can give you unbiased opinions.
If you are looking to get a mentor and do not know where to start, try reaching out to programs, alumni groups, or professional associations in your community. These establishments will often have programs where they match you up with a mentor that would be suitable for your needs or skills. Alternatively, you can also seek out or develop a mentor in your field or place of work. These types of relationships often develop naturally. For my mentoring blog, click here.
Set a Timeline and Goals – Do you have a specific position you would like to reach or feel like you are ready to move on to the next step in your career? One of my contacts had a goal of getting a director role within 6 months. This person felt that it was time that they moved on from the senior roles they were working in and wanted to take the next step. They decided that they wanted to make the move and they did! Within 3 months this person had achieved their goal.
Often working with a coach or a career counselor can help to get you on the path you want. Things such as structuring your resume, taking short courses in areas where you need to build your skills, and setting out a plan to reach those goals strategically will land you where you want to be. For more information on building a strategy for your career check out my strategy-building blog here.
Building your career takes focus and endurance. Things can change along the way, and you will need to learn to be flexible. If you plan your career and work towards your goals by following some of the strategies I have mentioned here (including checking out the referenced blogs) you will be able to build a plan and work towards what you want to achieve. Remember when building a career there will be peaks and valleys, and things do not always work out the way you imagined them to. The main thing is to not give up on your dreams and to stay focused and attentive.
Bliss + You 