Steps to set you on path to advancement

PBN Staff

01/23/2010

As 2010 begins, many people are determined to pursue personal goals such as spending more time with family, exercising frequently and eating better. However, this also is a good time to assess where you are in your career and set resolutions that will help you advance professionally. Whether you’re looking to move up in your current organization or find a new job, determining your objectives for the new year can help you get to where you want to be.
Following are some career-related resolutions professionals can consider for 2010:
• Play “internal” auditor. Everyone’s heard it’s a good idea to take an objective look at your skills and identify your strengths and weaknesses, but surprisingly few do so. Make a point to sit down and note where and how you can improve in 2010.
• Learn something new. Pursue a certification, become proficient with a new software program or take a course to enhance your skill set. The key is to continually broaden your expertise.
• Grow your network. Join a professional association or online network, or consider working with a specialized staffing firm in your job search. These contacts can provide valuable career guidance as well as keen insights on trends impacting your field and business.
• Pay it forward. Keep in mind that networking is as much about helping others as is it is about asking for help. Offer to be a reference for a former colleague or provide resume advice for a friend. In the process, you’ll strengthen your relationships and build goodwill.
• Be a better co-worker. Volunteer to help colleagues who may be overburdened and look for things you can do to improve office morale, such as praising others’ achievements or organizing informal group outings. In the process, you’ll establish yourself as a trusted resource at your firm. • Brush off your resume. You never know when a new opportunity might come along, so it’s best to be prepared. Updating your resume also helps you mentally crystallize what you bring to your current job, especially how you are helping your company weather the recession and prepare for growth.
• Build your people skills. A Robert Half survey found interpersonal skills often are the factor that can tip the scale in a candidate’s favor. Work with a mentor who can help you identify your strengths and those skills needing improvement.
• Don’t be a wallflower. Offer to take on projects beyond your job description and participate in or even lead cross-departmental teams. The exposure you gain to different functions and colleagues within your organization will enhance your value to your employer.
• Reward yourself. As you reach milestones in your career or job search, take the opportunity to acknowledge your success. Making time to go to a favorite restaurant or read a new book can go a long way toward keeping you motivated and ready to tackle new challenges.
• Stay positive. Employers want to work with people who maintain their poise, no matter how difficult things become. Use levity when appropriate to build rapport with colleagues and ease tensions that arise. You’ll distinguish yourself by persevering and motivating others to perform at higher levels.
While it’s always good to set resolutions, if they’re not well-formulated, the objectives can turn out to be less motivating than intended and easily forgotten. To avoid setting yourself up for failure before even getting started, stay away from the four types of resolutions below:
• Earn a raise. This is a goal many people can relate to, but, unfortunately, you don’t always have a say in the final outcome. It’s better to set goals you can control. For example, you might resolve to take a class to learn a software program you plan to use more frequently at work, which would ultimately result in increasing the value you bring to your employer. • Do X and Y and Z and … Determine which core resolutions should be given the highest priority and focus on those alone. With fewer secondary targets to distract you, you’ll have a better chance of accomplishing your most important objectives.
• Land the corner office. Depending on what position you currently hold, you may be setting your sights too high. While you want to make resolutions that challenge you to stretch your abilities, you also want to pursue objectives you can realistically accomplish. Oftentimes, a more appropriate target is to work with your manager to establish a career path and steps you can take to reach specific milestones.
• Bring your lunch to work to save money. This is an excellent personal goal, but career resolutions should focus on your professional growth. Ideally, they should be goals that enable you to take on new challenges and improve your marketability.
As you finalize a resolution, also set a deadline for accomplishing the goal, which will help you narrow your focus and hold yourself accountable. Whether your deadline is a week, month or year away, maintain a “status report” so you can continually see how you’re progressing and determine if any revisions are needed. By establishing the right resolutions for your career and keeping them top of mind, you’ll improve your chances of accomplishing them and advancing professionally. •