Do you remember being asked as a child ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ I swayed between being a nurse, an air stewardess and a hotel manager on a regular basis. But whether you said, for example, doctor, vet, TV presenter, dancer, astronaut, or Bob the Builder – I bet you weren’t held back from dreaming big or believing anything was possible.
Now, many of us will not be doing what we dreamt of as children but whatever twists and turns life has taken, there is a strong chance that you are looking to climb the career ladder.
And whatever your key motivator – professional development, taking on more responsibility, or higher earnings – you will want to make sure you are doing the right things to help you win that next big move.
Here are out top tips that will help you achieve your career goals.
1
Set career goals – have a plan on what you want to achieve, write it down and keep it close to you. Consider your career goals and where you want to get to? Once you have a plan, break your career goals down into achievable, short, medium and long-term chunks. Ask yourself where do you want to be a year from now? 5 years from now?
2
Strengths & Weaknesses – know your strengths and be honest about your weaknesses and consider how you can address them.
3
Be realistic – don’t run before you can walk – but be motivated to succeed.
4
Be a team player – help your colleagues and be flexible. Above all be positive – have a smile and cheery disposition.
5
Get noticed – for the right reasons. Go above and beyond the basic job description – think and act as if you were a level above. Show willing and enthusiasm by stepping forward to take on new tasks/projects
6
Celebrate achievements – remember to celebrate achieving your career goals. We all like a treat, so reward your hard work with something you’ll enjoy such as a meal out, tickets to a show or a new outfit or in my case, a new handbag
7
Network – networking is incredibly valuable, whether it’s with your immediate colleagues, or those in different teams, locations, and functions. And don’t forget to spread your networking web externally too through professional associations and LinkedIn
8
Professional Development – every day is a school day. You might have qualifications but to stay relevant and ahead of the pack you need to keep evolving and developing your skills through continuous professional development
We hope you have found our top tips helpful and wish you every success in achieving your career goals. Why not consider a career at Zonal as your next step up the career ladder? You can find our latest job roles here.
And if you liked this blog then you might also like to read How to make sure your CV is just the job
