You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you feel like something is wrong—with your career, that is.
Once upon a time, you had an idea of how your career would progress—what steps you would take, the challenges you would meet, and the opportunities that would result. But alas, you don’t see it happening. Or at the very least, you don’t see it happening quickly enough.
The cause isn’t necessarily one thing. There are probably a number of factors converging to conspire against you, and since you’re so busy, you might not notice the cumulative effect they’re having.
The good news: there’s still time to take action. In fact, below are five things that can help get your career back on track:
#1—Talk to your boss/supervisor.
Your current job is the starting point of this journey, and what you need to ascertain is exactly how much value you bring to the organization. Your value as an employee translates directly into how quickly you move up the career ladder. Ask your boss what additional value you could add and how you could add it. Ideally, you’ll compile your own suggestions prior to the meeting.
#2—Upgrade yourself.
This means taking proactive steps to add to your existing skill set through training and/or certification. If you’re not constantly evolving, then you’re slowly devolving. When you devolve, you lose value. The recent meeting you had with your boss may have unveiled areas in which you need to improve and corresponding skills that you need to acquire.
#3—Sharpen your interview skills.
Timing is a crucial part of career advancement. When the right opportunity presents itself, you must be ready to strike. This means being ready for the face-to-face interview. Actually, it means more than being ready—it means being at the top of your game. You won’t have time to “warm up,” so add interview preparation training to your upgrading endeavors.
#4—Engage your network.
Engagement involves both online engagement through social media channels such as LinkedIn and also offline engagement through industry events such as conferences and trade shows. The rule is the same for both: give more than you take. This means contributing knowledge, information, and insight and NOT just networking because you think it will lead to a new job.
#5—Align yourself with a search consultant.
Search consultants have access to what is known as the “hidden job market.” Not all openings are advertised through traditional means (such as online postings), especially those at the upper levels and those that have a high degree of importance tied to them. This is why building a relationship with an experienced search consultant is one of the smartest moves you can make for your career.
We help support careers in one of two ways: 1. By helping to find the right opportunity when the time is right, and 2. By helping to recruit top talent for the critical needs of organizations. If this is something you would like to explore further, please send an email to stacy@thevetrecruiter.com.