Are you sick and tired of depending on other people for your career success? Good! You are the only person responsible for your success.
If you feel trapped by a job you hate, a bad boss, offensive pay, or all of the above, it’s time to take ownership of your career. But where do you start?
Here are three things you can do to start taking control of your career today:
Inventory your skill sets
What are you famous for? What are your best skills? What accomplishments are you most proud of? What are your best qualities?
Take some time to list your best skill sets and how you use those skills to add value to the company. Think of all the quantifiable examples of where your skills have helped previous employers and other examples of your skill set that stand out.
Organizing all of this information will help you create your personal brand and organize how you want to sell yourself as a business to employers.
Start being active in your career
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If you want to take ownership of your career, you need to stop being reactive and start being proactive. Reactive actions include, but are not limited to: wait for your boss to give you a promotion, wait for recruiters to contact you with new opportunities or wait for employers to email you about your resume.
Notice that all of these “job search activities” begin with the word “waiting.” News flash. Waiting doesn’t work. Taking action is doing.
Instead, set up a meeting with your manager to discuss advancement opportunities or make a list of companies you’d like to work for, then contact employees at those companies and maybe even set up informational interviews.
It’s also important to present your cover letter and resume to a real person when you apply for a job, and follow up with that hiring staff.
Build your professional network
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The old saying, “It’s who you know” has never been truer. Relax with a little help from your career friends. Focus your efforts on building your professional network. Meet new people in your industry and bucket list companies. Start conversations and build relationships with them.
Even if you’re not yet ready to find a new job or change careers, having these people as references, mentors, and professional contacts will help you tremendously. They can offer advice and insights, act as a sounding board for ideas, and even connect you with jobs. Just make sure you help them in return.
Get out of your comfort zone
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A part of the new you The proactive approach is to step out of your comfort zone. A lot of people hold themselves back because they’re afraid of what people might think. But remember, nothing will change if you don’t.
Make an effort to put yourself out there and meet new people. Arrange informational interviews with like-minded professionals, speak with someone at a conference, and attend in-person or virtual networking events.
If you are ready for career success, take control of your career today by following the above tips. What is your business capable of?
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This article was originally published on an earlier date.
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