No one wants to feel trapped in their career. These feelings can lead to frustration and place barriers in other areas of your life, including personal growth. Career development is key for personal and job satisfaction, but it is a journey that requires dedication, continuous learning and, most of all, strategic planning. In this article, we will look at some tips that can help you get started on your journey to career growth and help you achieve your goals.
Table of Contents
Take Stock
Before you start planning, it is important to know where you have been to know where you are going. This process begins with taking an inventory of yourself. A good place to start is by outlining the lessons learned throughout your career. You already have insight into how your career has progressed over the years, the parts you have liked, and those you have not. All of these will form the basis on which you plan your next career. For example, knowing what roles you have held can be crucial to helping you outline the roles you would like to hold in the future.
Knowing what you do not like about your current career and its progression can direct you to the types of jobs and positions to seek, in addition to letting you know how to negotiate and understand whether a new path is the right one for you.
When taking stock, it is also crucial to conduct a personal assessment of your skills and experience gaps. Perhaps the new career path you want to take requires additional skills. You must have a plan for how to acquire these skills so you can make yourself the best candidate when you go in for an interview.
Set Clear Goals
What do you want for the future? What does your future look like? Once you answer these questions, you will be in a much better position to set your career goals. This starts with outlining your aspirations, i.e., what you want to achieve in your career.
The next step is outlining the roadmap that you will follow. A step-by-step plan will give you something to aim towards and can be an excellent tool for helping you achieve new career pals.
As you set these goals, keep SMART principles in mind. Each goal should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Following these principles will ensure you are heading in the right direction and help you avoid the frustration that often comes with setting goals that are difficult and sometimes impossible to achieve.
Invest in Continuous Learning
There are very few career changes that succeed without learning. You might be very experienced in your job or current role, but markets, industries, and the sectors you are interested in change all the time. It is therefore important that you keep up with industry trends and developments.
Doing this will help you identify gaps in your knowledge and skills. It will also help you understand what companies want in the modern age so you can be better prepared to be the type of employee they are looking for. The good news is that seeking new knowledge has become easier in the modern age. There are countless courses, conferences, and books that can help you expand your skills and learn new ones.
Once you identify areas of improvement, you must work on acquiring and improving the skills you need continuously. This process will not take a few days or weeks, but it will be worth it when you are ready for a change.
Take on new Challenges
Career growth requires change, and it is difficult to face or accept this change if you do not take on new challenges. One of the best places to start is stepping out of your comfort zone. Taking on new responsibilities and projects can be a great way to do this, with the added benefit being acquiring new skills that you can cite when applying for a new job.
Many experts also encourage people seeking this change to volunteer for additional tasks. Offering to help with projects outside your regular duties puts you in a much better position for a promotion if you are looking for a lateral or vertical move within the same company.
Lastly, seek opportunities to take on leadership roles. The final point of your career will likely be in a leadership position. It is better to hone the skills you will need then right now. You can do this by taking on leadership roles that allow you to develop them. You should also consider networking, as that can help you know of open leadership positions you can volunteer for.
Career growth is important for a variety of reasons. Many people cite better compensation and benefits, while people are attracted by the better work-life balance and flexibility that moving up the ladder affords them. Regardless of your aims, you should have a strategic plan that will help you move up in your career gradually but consistently.
