When it comes to work, some of us live to work, and others work to live. Regardless of your attitude, a considerable amount of our adult life is spent working, and career satisfaction is a crucial factor in our overall happiness and well-being. At some point in your working life, you may reach a crossroads and desire a complete change in direction, or you may be wondering how you can jumpstart your career to achieve your goals. One thing is for sure: It’s never too early or too late to explore new opportunities.
Be Honest
Get to know yourself and be completely honest about what you want — not just from your career but from life itself. Get back to basics with a pen and paper and write down what excites you — the kind of lifestyle you want, and your short and long-term goals. Pin this up in your kitchen to keep your goals at the forefront of your mind and to refocus if you feel like you’ve gone off track.
Build Strong Networks
Building strong professional networks is one of the best ways to get your foot in the door to find new opportunities for success. One of the easiest ways to connect to other industry professionals is by setting up a LinkedIn profile, which allows you to showcase your professional profile, connect with other professionals, find industry conferences and events, and search for jobs. The great thing about LinkedIn is that employers can directly contact you if they see you have the skills or experience they are looking for.
Ask for Advice
A good-old-fashioned chat is a powerful tool. If there is a particular company you would love to work at, reach out to someone who works there and ask them about the pros and cons of the organization. You might be contemplating whether to apply for a new role or to seek a promotion, so ask someone in a similar position about their skills and what they had to do to get there. By reaching out directly, you can raise any questions and concerns you may have and decide which actions to take.
Back to School
Taking the plunge and going back to school might be the only way to achieve your dream job, especially if it involves taking an entirely new career path. You should look at the money and time that higher education costs as an investment in your long-term future and happiness. You could also take a part-time adult education course which is excellent if you have a busy schedule, or you could explore the enormous variety of online course options to enhance your skills.
Volunteer
Employers are sometimes limited by what opportunities they can provide because of their budgets and resources. If you want a new job, then inquire whether an unpaid internship or volunteering position is possible, as this might be something they have not considered. Giving up your time in exchange for experience is invaluable, as it shows you are committed and driven. Volunteering is a great way to get your foot in the door for any future opportunities at the company. It also sets you apart when applying for roles in other organizations.
Be Your Own Boss
Whether you have a trade, service, or goods to sell, there are so many ways to be your own boss, either full-time or on the sideline. For creative professionals, freelancing is a great option — especially to fit around a day job in order to build your professional portfolio. If you have an ace product you think people will love, then you should consider taking advantage of the opportunities available with other businesses, like how Amway makes starting a business easy and stress-free.
These are only a few ways you can boost your career. It’s easy to feel stuck in a rut sometimes, but as long as you stay focused on what you want, be flexible in your approach, and explore your options, you will set yourself up for a great career.
Leave a Reply