Starting and developing a career might seem like a scary and overwhelming task, but don’t worry. These tips will help you find your career path and work on your skills so that you can become the best version if yourself no matter what you do in life.
Set goals and create a plan to achieve them
In order to develop your career, you need to know what you want from work and what you want to achieve. This is why sitting down and making a list of goals and setting a proper plan of how you want to achieve them is the first and most important step of this journey.
Develop a timeline, including milestones
The next thing you want to do is develop a certain timeline. You need to plan ahead and think of all the milestones you wish to accomplish. And don’t forget to approach this task from different angles. You need to be aware of the fact that your career will have both ups and downs and you need to be prepared for them.
Utilize company programs
Many companies have developed formal programs in order to help their employees improve their careers. These companies focus their energy on helping their employees not only work on their career development but also following that career path. If your company has those programs, utilize them and make the best out of this opportunity. However, this is not the case in some other companies. That is why you will need to informally pursue your own career development.
Own your career path
You need to own your career path. You can always discuss it at an arranged bi-annual meeting with your boss. Some companies are very devoted to helping their employees with whatever resources of time and money they can in order to help them develop their careers. However, at the end of the day, remember that this is your career path and you need to work for it.
Write it down
Choosing a career path can be very important because it is a written career plan that will help guide you towards your goals. It will also help you take charge of what is important to your fulfillment and success you are trying to reach. Writing down your plan and the career path you want to follow will help you stay focused.
Consider job shadowing
However, it’s totally fine to not yet be sure about your future growth goals, but be curious about various options. It’s okay if you don’t want to invest too heavily before getting well-informed about all the options you have. If you are stuck in this zone, not knowing what to do, consider job shadowing. It is one of the easiest and inexpensive ways to get informed about different roles in the company. And if your company doesn’t have a formal program, reach out to your manager or human resources business partner and discuss your options with them.
Find a mentor
Once you know for sure what your goal is and what skills you want to improve, go looking for a mentor. Having any type of mentoring relationship will help your overall growth and development.
Invest in your skills and knowledge
You can never go wrong with investing in your own knowledge and skills in order to improve them even more. By taking online classes and visiting master classes you can perfect your already existing skills or develop some new ones as well. For instance, if you really love makeup and want to elevate to a whole new level, then investing in a prestigious Perth beauty college can help you make a career out of your passion and talent. Though it might seem scary to invest a lot of money all at once, the hard work will pay off.
Think BROADLY!
Lastly, be open-minded. Career development doesn’t just happen in the office. Volunteer! It offers so many development benefits. You’ll develop your communication skills, work on the networking, better your already existing skills as well as learn some new ones that might be helpful later in your career.
Try listening to podcasts. They are highly educational and you can listen to them while you’re doing something else as well. Consider joining Peer2Peer groups too. They provide an opportunity for people to exchange advice and experiences. Lastly, join one of your company’s committees where you can work on your leadership, influencing, and organization skills.
Conclusion
In conclusion, finding yourself isn’t easy. It can get quite hectic and confusing at times. So, take your time, sit down and write what you want to accomplish in your life. The best way to develop your career is to stay truthful to yourself, be open-minded and look for opportunities wherever you can.
