You go to work, you do your job, and you go home wondering what’s next. You wonder what your next step is. What can you do to improve your career?
So you ask your boss. He or she looks at you blankly and points at your project. You return to your desk, confused. It’s all too easy to continue this routine until you become dissatisfied with your current situation and start looking for another job.
What’s wrong with this story? You are not in control of your career.
You do your job, you talk to your boss, but you’re not actively managing your career. In fact, you want your boss to manage your career. The problem is, your boss is busy managing his or her career. So you need to start managing your career yourself. You need to manage your career yourself.
Too many professionals today let their managers manage their career path and trajectory, when in reality, it’s something they should be in control of themselves. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in work that you lose sight of your career. So how can you take control of your career with confidence?
Here are 7 ways you can start taking charge of your career today…
1. Set and communicate clear goals
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The key to getting what you want is to know what you want. You need to know what you want from your career, and you need to clearly communicate those goals to your manager and mentor. These career goals are a great way to measure your progress throughout the year and should be mentioned in your regular performance reviews.
2. Create an open feedback loop
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The hardest part is listening to honest feedback, because it’s not always positive. But the ability to listen to all feedback and adjust accordingly is what will advance your career. Always be open to feedback, good, bad and unpleasant. Doing so will help you adjust your work and goals.
3. Think about your accomplishments in a different light
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Try to think of your work in terms of NEARs: numbers, examples, achievements, results. We all have responsibilities. But those who stand out talk about their responsibilities in terms of numbers, achievements, results, and have examples to back it up. This is called quantifying your work experience, and it’s key to getting a new job or getting a promotion. What numbers, examples, achievements, results have you produced this year?
4. Manage work samples
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Chances are, you’ve done one great project a quarter that definitely met the NEAR standard — a project or deliverable that you’re super proud of that contributed to the company’s success. Save that work in a dedicated folder on your computer or in the cloud. It’s always important to have examples of your work ready in case you’re aiming for a promotion, a raise, or just want to give a recruiter a glimpse of what value you could add as an employee.
5. Join the conversation
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Read industry publications, websites, and blogs. Share the best articles with your connections on LinkedIn and give them your perspective. Position yourself as a voice in the industry and a valuable resource within your professional network. When you find great content, post insightful comments and connect with industry influencers.
6. Raise your hand
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If a new project comes up and it aligns with your goals, raise your hand. Let your manager or HR team know that you would like to learn new skills or gain new, more advanced experience. Be clear about what you can bring to the project and get involved.
7. Invest time in maintenance
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I know you are all busy working and getting things done. This is the extra thing you need to take control of your career. Spend a few hours a week in conversations and interacting with new people. You should also spend about an hour a quarter on maintaining your best work files and social profiles. This doesn’t have to cost a fortune; it’s just a new habit you create to take control of your career growth and trajectory.
As a professional and businessperson, it is extremely important that you take ownership of your career and take as much active control as possible. The best way to achieve your career goals and build your personal brand is to “work at it every day.” Follow these tips today to take active control of your career and you’ll be on your way to success sooner than you think.
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