Career Advancement Atricles
.......................................................................................
Be Open Minded About Your Career Hopes And Direction
Most people enter college with a general idea about what they want to do for a career when they graduate. Perhaps they are interested in medicine or law. Perhaps they want to teach but do not know yet what age or subject. Perhaps they are sure that a business degree will set them on the right path but do not know where the path will lead. For others, entering college is like walking up to a buffet. There are too many choices and too little time. The truth is many people who start school with one idea about what they want to do in their career leave school with a completely different idea.
This is the advantage of college. You are expected to experiment a bit, to find your subject, and run with it once you have found it. But it is important to remember that once you start down your career path, that same open mindedness and willingness to learn are just as vital as they were in college. While you may have found a great place to start, you never know where you might end up.
One of the best ways to advance in your field is to set goals. You want to be specific and realistic about what you want to achieve and how to get there. Create a timeline that lays out how long you want to spend on certain training or how many years of experience you feel you need to move to the next level. But along with this basic plan, you need to have an open mind.
Opportunities come along all the time that are not in our plans. People come into our lives and make major changes in how we do things or how we see ourselves. Without being open to these changes, you might miss an opportunity to grow and to move in a direction that is better for you than the only one you could see previously.
So set your goals, but be willing to listen when someone offers you the chance to stray from the path you set for yourself. To do this, you will need to re-evaluate your goals and your plans to reach your goals on a regular basis. You can either do this each time you receive a review at work or you can set a time less frequently, say once a year, to look over your plans and goals and see what still fits.
You may find that what you wanted two years ago no longer fits with your aspirations and hopes for yourself now. You may have family sooner or later than you anticipate. You may discover a hidden talent that you want to cultivate. You may get a promotion sooner than you thought you would and need to advance your timeline. Re-evaluating your goals will help you to clarify what you want for yourself and how to get it. But if you cannot keep an open mind in the process, you will find it hard to adapt to an every changing world.
Get the professional edge with a powerful resume. Certified writers. Interviews guaranteed. Call or e-mail now to start today.
You will be delighted with the results.
.................................................................................... TOP
Don't Be Afraid To Change Track Throughout Your Career
Not too long ago, the expectation of a working man or woman was to stay on the same career track for thirty, forty, even fifty years. You were expected to get a job with a great company and slowly advance through the ranks until you reached retirement age. It was vital that you found your niche while you were in school so that you could get off and running with a career and stick with it. If you went to medical school, you were expected to be a doctor until you retired. It was very rare for someone to change tracks, and it was difficult as well.
Today, the overall landscape of the working world has changed. The average tenure at a company is three years. That is far different from the old days where people spent decades working in the same office. Now you are expected to keep up with the fast paced changes of technology, communications, and marketing. If you try to stay in one place for too long, you may find that your skills are less marketable.
So the key to job security in many cases may be job variety. Having a diversified resume may be just as important as having a diversified financial portfolio. You need to have skills that are transferable so that as industries change, you can change with them. So expect to move from one position to another throughout your career.
If you start in one department as a worker, you may advance after a while to a managerial position. But a good move to get to that executive chair might include a lateral move to another department. This may seem like a change in your career track, but keep an open mind and try to envision what the experience could do for your potential advancement.
Another trend among today's workforce is changing fields altogether. Whereas it used to be unheard of to switch fields after the age of thirty, many people find today that they only realize later in life what it is they truly love to do. You may find yourself in a position where you need to go back to school and get another degree in order to pursue your dream. Again, this trend of older workers going back to college is growing.
So do not be afraid to change tracks in your career. Stay open minded and remember that only you know what will truly fulfill you.
Get the professional edge with a powerful resume. Certified writers. Interviews guaranteed. Call or e-mail now to start today.
You will be delighted with the results.
.................................................................................... TOP
Identify And Evaluate Your Career Goals And Aspirations
If advancing in your career and having the life you have always dreamed of sounds appealing to you, there is something you should know: if you can't dream it, you can't do it. What does this mean to the modern working man and woman? It means that if you do not get specific and realistic about your goals and aspirations, you will not be able to achieve them.
Does this sound extreme? Well, maybe. But the truth is that without a road map, your career path could wind around the bend until you realize one day that you have gone nowhere. If you do not have in mind the place you want to go to, you will have a lot of trouble getting there. Think about getting in your car and deciding you want to drive somewhere. So you start your car, hit the gas, and off you go. Four hours later, in the middle of a field, you wonder why you are not at the grocery store. You have to have a plan.
So how do you start? Begin by identifying your goals and aspirations. This may sound daunting to some people who have never practiced goal setting before. But it does not have to be a difficult task. Ask yourself some questions:
Are you in the field you want to stay in for the next ten to twenty years?
If so, where do you want to end up in ten to twenty years?
If not, what career would you rather have and where do you want to end up in that career after ten to twenty years?
These questions should lead you to some general answers about what you want out of your work life. If you need to make a major career change, now is the time to know about it, not five years from now when you are five years older. Five years from now, you could be working the job of your dreams. But you have to get started now.
If you love the field you are in but see yourself as an executive in a corner office, then you better get started on the path to promotion. It is highly unlikely that someone will waltz into your office one day and offer you the promotion for being so well dressed. So here is where the road map comes in.
Whether changing jobs or advancing in the one you have, you need to plot out the step it takes to get where you are going. Often, this is easiest when you start from the end. What would an executive in a corner office need to be qualified? What would someone working that new job have learned to do before he or she got hired? You may have to make some lists here, so get some paper.
Write out the qualifications and experience you need. Be specific. If you need at least a year of marketing experience, write out your ideas about where you could get that experience. Maybe you can take a lateral move in your company and run another department for a while to get the necessary skills. If you need a degree in another area, maybe you can work you current job while attending night classes. What schools in your area offer the degree you need?
It is important to be specific and set yourself some time limits. Four years to get your degree or five years to work in human resources may sound like a long time, but remember that in four or five years you will either be well on your way to your goals or still stuck in the driveway. The difference is up to you.
Get the professional edge with a powerful resume. Certified writers. Interviews guaranteed. Call or e-mail now to start today.
You will be delighted with the results.
.................................................................................... TOP
Know Your Competition Both Internally And Externally
When you are seeking a promotion, there are several factors to consider before you make a game plan. You will want to create a strategy for obtaining the promotion. In order to do this, you need some perspective on not only what the employer is looking for and what you have to offer, but who you are up against in the hiring process.
If you begin by becoming familiar with what the boss is looking for in the new position, you will be off to a good start. Read through the job description and any advertisements the company publishes for the opening. Notice the requirements and be sure that you have these or can get them in time for the interview process. Also consider the personality of the boss and the culture of the office.
You may work in a very formal setting where business protocol is adhered to in all ways. This means that you want to conduct yourself accordingly in the weeks leading up to the interview. Be respectful and professional in all your affairs, including your break room conversations. What you think is a harmless discussion with a coworker could come back to haunt you later. So watch what you say and to whom you say it. The best plan is to be impeccable with your word from the beginning.
You will need to think about what you have to offer in comparison to the requirements of the job. If the position requires that you have some marketing experience, be sure you have some. This may mean taking a course offered by the company or an outside community college. You may want to ask to be placed on a project as the marketing person so that you can get some hands on experience. Or you may want to mentor with someone in the marketing department. All of these options will require that you put in some extra time to get prepared for the promotion. If you are not willing to do this, you are not read for the promotion.
Once you have an idea on what your skills are, what the boss is looking for, and where you need improvement; it is time to take a look at the competition. You need to know what you are up against both internally and externally. If you did your homework and studied the published requirements for the job, you can assume that any final candidates will have some combination of these skills and work histories.
You may want to make a side-by-side comparison of your work history and skills with those of an ideal candidate according to the advertisement. This should show you how you might stack up against an external candidate for the position. Be honest with yourself about your experience and do not get too discouraged if you do not fit the requirements as well as your imaginary counterpart. Remember that your experience inside the company will count for a lot when it comes time to hire someone.
But this familiarity with the corporate culture, the executives, and the workload is shared by others at the company. So the next thing to do is to ascertain who in your organization might also be interested in the promotion. The most important part of this knowledge comes into play as you interact with these people. Do not give in to the temptation to be dishonest or hostile. Do learn what you are up against in terms of their training and experience and do your best to compete.
Get the professional edge with a powerful resume. Certified writers. Interviews guaranteed. Call or e-mail now to start today.
You will be delighted with the results.
.................................................................................... TOP
Performance Coaching And The Benefit To Career Advancement
In the stressful work world, having someone on your side is a boon to your career success. You may have colleagues who are rooting for you and put in good words for you at work. You may have mentors who give you tips and the inside track to new positions coming available. You probably have friends and family members who want what is best for you and tell you what they think that is on a regular basis. But what you may need to truly advance your career is a performance coach.
Personal or professional coaching is a trend that is on the rise all over the country. People are hiring coaches to help them with anything from time management skills to personal crises. But what a coach can do best in any circumstance is help you gain a new perspective. No colleague, mentor, or friend can see you as clearly as a stranger, nor can they be as candid with you. This is only one of the advantages of hiring a performance coach.
It is difficult for most people to truly see their strengths and weaknesses because they are so consumed with their own thoughts and circumstances. When you are too close to an issue, it can be hard to tell the true from the false. In a work situation where you want to be at your best, it is imperative to have an objective evaluation of your performance.
A coach can give you just that. By listening to your habits, goals, and challenges, a coach can help you see what you are doing when you are at your best. You will see what skills you have that carry you forward and learn when to emphasize them. You will see what characteristics make you a good candidate for promotion and how to bring those out when it really counts. And you will begin to see more clearly the direction that your career can and should take according to your own goals and dreams of fulfillment.
So if you are serious about your career advancement, take stock with a performance coach and make an investment in your future that will never cease to give you returns.
Get the professional edge with a powerful resume. Certified writers. Interviews guaranteed. Call or e-mail now to start today.
You will be delighted with the results. .................................................................................... TOP
Securing A Successful Promotion Is Based On A Strong Work Record
In today's competitive corporate world, the battle for leadership positions and executive offices can become fierce. You may think that getting on well with your boss is the way to the top. But time and again, studies show that the way to a successful promotion is along the path of a strong work record. There is nothing new about this idea. Working hard and reaping the reward of that commitment is the foundation of the capitalist system. So here are some tips to building the strongest work record you can:
Show up. Yes, this sounds overly simple, but you would be surprised at the number of employees who take advantage of the company's sick or vacation time. While you may be offered a week or two of sick time, you do not have to take it. If you do, you not only reduce your visibility with your bosses, but you also reduce your opportunities to be on the team of a successful project or presentation. By simply showing up, you can beat out a percentage of your colleagues on appearances alone.
Follow through on your word. This is a basic idea and it covers a lot of ground. First of all, if you agree to be at work every day at eight in the morning, be there at eight. Not in the elevator or in the parking garage, but seated at your desk and ready to work. Do the same for meetings, conference calls, and other work related gatherings. Consistent punctuality will create the image of a reliable and willing employee who respects the other people in the room as well as the company as a whole.
Along with this, you want to do what you say you will in terms of work. If you tell someone you will have a report by the end of the week, even though it is not really necessary until the following Tuesday, turn it in when you say you will. Waiting until Tuesday simply because you know there are no real consequences to this lateness only puts you in the category of someone doing just enough to stay afloat. These people do not get promoted.
Stay current. Take advantage of any training programs or extra classes that your company has to offer. This will not only increase your skills and understanding of current trends, but it will also show the company your commitment to your field on a long-term basis. You can also take courses outside of work by participating in local continuing education classes or online tutorials. Be sure that the higher ups are aware of your initiative.
By following these basic strategies, you put yourself in the top bracket of potential candidates and increase your chances for a successful promotion.
Get the professional edge with a powerful resume. Certified writers. Interviews guaranteed. Call or e-mail now to start today.
You will be delighted with the results.
.................................................................................... TOP
Top Tips For Moving Your Career To The Next Level
When considering a new position or an available promotion, you may feel that you lack either the experience or the skills to get ahead. Some people are intimidated by the competitive atmosphere in an organization offering promotions. Some people feel that their young age or their advanced years will stand in their way of becoming an executive or a key corporate player. Other people are worried that they do not have what it takes to compete with the other workers at their company.
The fact is most people can get ahead by following some basic rules and putting themselves in the right place at the right time. Of course, experience and tenure with a company do count towards your trustworthiness and reliability, but you can groom yourself to a certain extent for success.
First, make your interest known to the people doing the hiring. It is important that you speak up and tell someone that you are interested in advancing and ask them what it would take for you to get to the next level. They will most likely give you some specific instructions about what you need to know, what skills you need to master, and what positions stand between you and your goal.
You may need to make some lateral moves in the company before moving up. Many people are promoted based on their broad understanding of a company's needs and organization. If you work in various areas of the firm, you will have a first hand knowledge and work experience with these facets of the operation. This kind of experience is invaluable when it comes time to assign new leadership positions.
If you want to move up, now is the time to start taking on some extra work. Ask for extra projects or request to join a team working on a particular area that you want to know more about. Take the initiative in putting yourself in the middle of new ideas and changes in the corporation. Show the people who have influence that you are a fast learner, a willing employee, and a team player. Be sure that you document your successes and sales with charts or other record keeping methods.
This is not the time to take a leave of absence. The most important thing you can do for yourself right now is to let yourself be seen. Stay late or work early. One good trick is to watch the person you want to work directly under and monitor their schedule. Work when they work, and do not leave the office until they do. Eventually, it will be only you two in the room and you will get your shot at self-promotion.
Get the professional edge with a powerful resume. Certified writers. Interviews guaranteed. Call or e-mail now to start today.
You will be delighted with the results. .................................................................................... TOP
Why Training And Development Should Be Continuous
When you started in your career, you no doubt had a vision of where you would be in a certain amount of time. Your career plans are an important part of your ability to feel fulfilled, and perhaps to provide for a family. Setting these goals is the first step to achieving them. So if you are well into your career now and are not seeing the kind of results you first expected, you may want to re-examine your approach to your training and development.
When anyone starts a new job or begins to work in a new field, they expect a certain amount of training to be required for their initial work period. There are new rules and regulations to consider and learn. There are new corporate cultures to adjust to, learn how to communicate effectively in the office and becoming accustomed to the proper attire. Then there are the skills and knowledge required to do the new job well. All of this training and development are a given when you take on a new role.
But after this initial training period is over, many people sink comfortably into their new jobs and forget all about any further training. This is a mistake if you want to advance beyond your current position. If you are satisfied where you are and do not have any aspirations of moving forward or increasing your rate of pay, by all means, stop learning. But if you want to become a more valuable member of the organization and really see an increase in your financial status, then you will need to put some effort into that goal.
Training and development are not just items on the checklist of a new hire. As a professional, these should be aspects of continuous attention on your part. If you want to see some changes in your career path, you will need to create that change first by initiating new learning and new ideas.
You can take advantage of training programs offered by your company. Many firms offer computer classes, communication skills classes, and other courses that are meant to hone the skills of their employees. Enrolling and participating in these classes will give you the opportunity to get to know the instructor, who is often an expert from within the organization with some influence. It will also show your commitment to continued learning and growth, as well as to the advancement of the company as a whole. Your participation here can also bring you further into the corporate culture.
Online tutorials and community learning courses are other sources of training and development that you should look into taking. You can often take these at a very low cost and the schedules are built around a workday schedule so that you can take the class in the evening or on weekends. Be sure that if you take a class outside of the workplace environment that you let the powers that be know what you are doing. Do not wait until you ask for a promotion to let your boss know of your skills. Speak up and let them know you are investing in your future with the company now.
Get the professional edge with a powerful resume. Certified writers. Interviews guaranteed. Call or e-mail now to start today.
You will be delighted with the results.
.................................................................................... TOP
You Must Have A Plan - Develop Your Career Strategy
Most people begin their careers with certain expectations in mind. You may see yourself in a corner office some day or on the front lines of the sales force. You may feel that you are cut out for a leadership position or one that offers innovation and advancement to the creative side of the company. You may want to hold an executive staff position or be in charge of a large profit area. Whatever your dreams and expectations, they are more likely to come to fruition if you have a plan of action.
Simply wanting to advance your career is not enough. Get specific about your goals. First, begin by setting out the basics. What is your ultimate goal? Do you want to be a local or regional manager? Do you want to be a partner or the CEO? Be specific and do not be afraid to aim high. Now work backwards from there. What kind of experience and skills would a CEO or manager need? Write out the positions you think would be required before someone was advanced to the position you are seeking. You might need to be in charge of various departments before taking the reigns of the entire organization.
Next, look at your time schedule. By what date do you want to achieve this ultimate goal. Be specific and realistic. If you are working in the mailroom, becoming CEO in three years is probably not going to happen. Write out a timeline of the steps you need to take to get to your goal. In a year, what position or experience do you need to have? What about in two years?
Once you have this basic information down, look at your skill set. What is missing? It is vital that you take advantage of any training or development that your company offers. Do this between each review period. If you are reviewed every three months, then schedule some sort of training for yourself four times a year so that your boss will see you making continuous progress toward the next level.
Finally, take stock of where you are now. How long have you been at the company? In that time, what have you accomplished? Do you need to step up your progress? If you have been there for two years in the same position with no further training other than the basic skills you acquired when you were hired, it is time to be proactive about your career path. Take some initiative and get involved in projects that give you the experience you need. Tell the higher ups that you are interested in a move to the next level and ask them what you need to do to get there.
Overall, the more specific and detailed your plan, the easier it will be to enact and the more successful you will be in reaching your goals.
Get the professional edge with a powerful resume. Certified writers. Interviews guaranteed. Call or e-mail now to start today.
You will be delighted with the results.
.................................................................................... TOP
|
