Monday, July 14, 2014

Four Secret Strategies to Achieve Your Career Goals


Even if you are not currently looking for a job, there are four things you should still do!

It is good if you are not looking out for a job change. Reasons could be different - things are going on fine at work and you are happy OR you have a contractual agreement OR you just recently joined. Day to day work challenges take up all time and keep you busy. But remember things could change any moment. Your boss could change, your company could relocate and close the office you are working in, you may be laid off if you are the most junior member of the team. In that case, are you prepared for the next move? There are things you should still do even if you have no plans to change job: Plan – Learn – Attempt – Network (P-L-A-N)

PLAN

Plan your career. What would you like to do 3 to 5 years down the line? What are your next career move options? Remember – this is not just about job title; it is about the role. It should not just be one option – you should rather consider multiple job roles or options. Broaden your horizon - consider options within your company, competing companies and even within different industry verticals. You can also consider prioritizing your career options – Plan A – Plan B – Plan C. Planning will give you an idea about the Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSA) that you need to acquire for a progressive career move.

LEARN

Once you are clear about your next plans, invest time in learning and improving on the KSAs required for the next move. Formal education or certification is good but learning need not necessarily be limited to formal education. Learn as much as you can by participating in new initiatives / projects or being part of knowledge sharing forums or interacting with people who are handling your target roles etc.

ATTEMPT

Attempt to be what you want to be. For example, if you want to be a team manager in future – then volunteer to mentor or train a new colleague. Yes, I know - it is not your job to train him/her – but take the initiative and do it. Do you want to move from telesales to sales – do it – start accompanying the sales team. Take up any initiative which will give you experience / exposure to your target role. These kind of initiatives combined with learning will help you prepare for the next career move.

NETWORK

Network with the right people; those who are handling roles similar to your target role with the aim of learning, knowing, and having more exposure to the role, challenges, and requirements of your target role. The quality of your network is what matters. The insight you get from interacting with those who are successfully handling your target role is like an internship! So, keep doing it.


P-L-A-N is not just to get promoted within your company or to find a better job elsewhere. It is a way of work life – a way to prevent career stagnation, a way to steer not just float, a way to experience job satisfaction. What do you think?  Let me know!

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