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You are responsible for your career, and every decision you make can affect it positively or negatively. By constantly working on yourself and improving your skills, not only will you make yourself more valuable, but you will also achieve a new level of satisfaction for accomplishments you’ve made. Your goal is to excel in your field of work and be productive. To achieve higher goals, you will have to take some long-term steps in order to boost your career and your resume. Getting into the habit of making small improvements on a daily basis will reap huge rewards in the long run – and here are some advices on how to accomplish them.
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Get organized
Don’t wait until it’s too late for annual reviews – start now! There is so much you can focus on during the year. Try to set smaller goals – and then provide yourself with a deadline to finish them. Try to overcome the need for procrastination. You can identify which activities drive you the most to procrastinate and then take some steps to reduce them and focus on some more productive things.
Start making lists – it will help you be more productive. Once you complete something, don’t throw it away. Instead, date and file them in a work completed folder. This will allow you to have a documented list of all the tasks you accomplished which you can take out at your next performance review or when asking for a raise.
Stop working hard – start working smart. By organizing your time and workplace better, you can save yourself a lot more time and can focus on working stress-free. Find areas within your job that are essential to your group and to the company and focus most of your resources in those areas.
Learn
Many people live with the misconception that your education ends when you’ve received your diploma, while actually learning is a never-ending pursuit. There is a wide variety of classes you can still take to obtain skills that will make it easier for you to advance in your career. You can ask for advice from your mentor or boss and pinpoint exactly what will be beneficial for your career and company.
Learning a second language is always a good idea. Being proficient in a second language can open up a lot of career opportunities and is well worth pursuing if you have an interest in one. We are blessed to live in a time where almost anyone can become proficient in a foreign language, and all they need is a pair of headphones and a computer/phone. You can find numerous apps and sites that can help you learn new languages from scratch.
Move
That’s right – move! Whether it’s closer to your work, or a whole other country, there are countless opportunities you can make for your career by simply changing your location. Long commutes to work generally lead to stress and exhaustion, poor relationships, and marriage breakdown. If you feel like your everyday commute is time-consuming and exhausting, you should consider moving closer to work. By doing this you can lower your fuel costs, and save up in the long run. By saving some time from commuting, you can devote to your personal hobbies or attain new skills. Experienced removalists suggest moving since it can be beneficial for your mental health. A number of researchers found that individuals who commute more than 10 miles in each direction tend to have a higher likelihood of developing anxiety and depression.
If you’re a new graduate and unsure how to pursue your career goals, working abroad can really boost your resume and provide you with the new opportunities. Traveling will also develop your self-reliance and adaptability and you should take the leap while you’re not tied down by the family commitments.
Socialize
Updating your resume isn’t the only thing on your list you should be working on – try to maintain connections with all the people you meet through your business contacts. This can be an easy way to improve your career, so keep network lines open and create new network contacts. Send some e-mails and make a few phone calls to catch up with your peers. You can make it a lunch date even – it will give you an opportunity to talk with people about ideas you have in a less formal setting.
Don’t forget the social networks. LinkedIn is can greatly expand your networking resources. If you have already joined, take some time to explore and find some other people you may want to contact. You can get recommendations, meet new people and maybe even find a new job opportunity.
Final thoughts
Working on yourself and your career is a constant effort – so don’t forget to relax from time to time, and of course, commit to things you really love. There are times when you may have to take a job that you don’t particularly like, but there is no reason that you have to be stuck there – you can simply learn from it and carry on.
