New Year - New Career Objectives
New Year is the perfect time for undergoing major changes and advancing your career.
Taking the next step in your career either means changing the direction of your career, or progressing and getting promoted in your current company, in order to expand your existing role, which adds to you more experience. Whatever your career goals for the next year, here are our top tips to help you take the next step up the career ladder.
1- Monitor your Career
Set your goals
Monitor your career through carrying out a “career audit” in order to identify the shape of your career to date. Try to think about the following set of questions and find answers that could help you evaluate your performance:
a) What are those skills that have been developed throughout your career?
b) What are the additional skills that you should develop in order to achieve your goals?
c) What are your weaknesses that you need to overcome in the coming year?
d) What are your strengths that have improved your performance, and how would you maintain them for the coming year?
e) What are your career ambitions in the medium to longer term?
After answering the previous questions, you will be able to achieve your goals that could take place through developing your skills, including getting some training, reading career or personal development books, or finding a mentor
2-Build up contacts
Not getting yourself noticed is one of the top lists that might prevent you from progressing in your career. It's true that many of us get shy from the idea of networking, but if you’re not visible in your company, you’re going to find it very hard to get promoted, headhunted or even recognized for the contribution that you make. Remember that networking is about building up contacts and relationships over time, which can be achieved through helping your colleagues or other people at work.
3- See the bigger picture
Seeing the bigger picture is another skill that you need to develop. You should make a distinction between important aspects that are of a great impact to the company and other things that have no real impact on the company’s bottom line. You should be aware of what's going on in your industry as a whole, not just the company you work for. Seeing the bigger picture would let you decide whether you would continue with your career, trying to face its challenges, or change your career direction. For instance, if you were able to identify the major challenges or threats that might come along in your industry, you should either find ways to face those challenges, or pursue a different kind of career.
If you find better opportunities in another industry different from that of your career, then you might consider changing your career direction. You should take advantage of good chances and opportunities. Thus, always keep your resume updated.
4-Review Your Progress
Always review your progress regularly in order to make the performance- evaluation process easier. Keep a record of all your work, progress, and achievements, in order to be able to identify your drawbacks and work on improving your performance.