career

Tips for Reaching Your Career Goals

As we have entered a new year and a new goal setting season, it is important when you set your goals you must give yourself the best chance for success. With an economy full of opportunities, it is a great time to assess your career. Every employee has professional goals that they would like to achieve, and being able to reach your goals in your current position is key to job satisfaction. Those who achieve their goals successfully are more than likely to receive raises, be more productive, get promotions, and are more than likely to stay with the company that they work for. Achieving your career goals requires planning, introspection, and dedication. While ambition is a good thing, it is important to channel it smartly. Here are some helpful tips for reaching your career goals.

  • Upskill

Completing a long-distance course while you work, you can further your education and advance your career at the same time. The course you choose can be aligned with your career goals. Studying broadens your skill set and knowledge which increases your career prospects, earning power, and makes you more employable.

  • Set and know your goals 

Devote some energy and time to marking out your career goals. A great start to achieving them is making a plan and writing them out. Seek out what your end result will be and what you would like to achieve in the important areas of your life including health, relationships, finance, career, and self-development.

goals

  • Stay Committed

With your set goals in place, stay 100% committed and dedicated to achieving those goals. There will always be setbacks but you should persevere as achieving any worthwhile goal is not the easiest. Be prepared to make sacrifices, work harder, and try more. Have a clear milestone along the way and a vision in front of you. Remind yourself that you deserve success and work on building your confidence for your career along the way. Put in the hours and as they say “you get what you give”.

  • Sharpen your Soft Skills 

Boosting your specific skills is important, but do not forget your general skills that apply to any given role such as organisation, team player, and time management. Ongoing learning is critical to your career success and personal development. The more improvement on your soft skills, the more valuable an employee you will be, so think about the areas you are lacking in and try to do much better.

  • Monitor your Progress

When setting new goals, it is crucial to monitor and measure your progress along the way. If you are leading a team it is important to share your progress with the rest of the team. Figure out whether you are reaching your milestones within the desired time frame. If you are setting yourself big goals, it is important to be clear what your goals are, track your performance and celebrate each success individually.

progress

  • Take criticism Graciously 

Sometimes it is not easy receiving criticism at the end of the day, even if it is constructive and helpful. Accept the criticism graciously , it will set you apart from other employees who are known to ignore the feedback and get defensive. Nobody is a perfect employee, so improve upon your criticism and learn from your mistakes.

  • Network

Work on building up a network and reputation in both your organisation whom you work for and outside of this. Make connections with people you work with and those you respect and admire as professionals. Maintaining and building a good network can lead to future partnerships and collaborations. While personal connections are preferred, it is equally important to maintain and build a professional digital network as well. Set up a professional website or an online Linked-In profile that will advertise your work experience and skills.

  • Always be a Team Player 

Be a strong team player at work. If your work colleagues need a helping hand on a project give them a helping hand. This will show your employer or manager that you are willing to be a team player. These qualities will always land you a step up the ladder to gain you a new role at work.

teamplayer

  • Upkeep a professional image 

Your image at work will play an important role in your career path. Look, sound, dress, and act the part. Surround yourself with successful and positive people who are known to take their careers seriously.

The road to a successful career is never accidental even though circumstances and luck can lend a helping hand along the way. Successful professionals are able to sustain their career with a plan, vision, and hard work along the way.