Between Monday and Friday, approximately half of our waking lives are spent working. That represents a huge opportunity to make life-enhancing changes. Grab a pen and paper, choose a quiet spot and get started on a career enhancement plan this month.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in our daily routine: wake up, have breakfast, commute, work, commute home, make dinner, eat, clean up, go to bed and repeat. But every once in a while it’s important to step back from this cycle to re-evaluate where we are in our careers and where we want to be. Regularly reviewing and adjusting our goals ensures we keep moving forward and living our lives consciously.
Map your goals
When reviewing your goals, take some time alone to figure out what it is you really want. Ask yourself the following questions; they may help to clarify what’s important to you.
- What are your workplace values?
- What have you achieved? Do you want to achieve more?
- Where would you like to be career-wise in five, 10 and even 15 years?
Once you’ve taken some time to figure out what you want your career path in your current employment to look like, map out how you will get there.
You might consider talking to co-workers in positions you find interesting, finding a mentor or taking advantage of company-funded education options. Doing these things will not only make you a more valuable and knowledgeable employee, but it will also show your employer that you are keen to learn and move forward with the company.
Upgrade your skills
The world is changing at such a fast pace that often the skills we acquired during our post-secondary studies become outdated quickly. Alan Kearns, founder of a career coaching organization, emphasizes the importance of continual upgrading, whether you’re a multi-billion dollar company or fresh out of college. “What did RIM [Research in Motion] do wrong?” he asks. “It stopped growing.”
Professional development has many benefits, including
- increasing your value to your employer
- keeping you up-to-date on the latest trends
- allowing you to meet like-minded professionals in your industry
- creating a renewed sense of excitement about your job and your ability to drive change and innovation in the workplace
There are a number of outlets you can take advantage of to upgrade your skills, including courses, seminars, conferences and networking events. Because many people upgrading their skills are employed, most programs offer courses in the evenings or on weekends. And with more and more courses being offered partly or fully online, upgrading your skills is more convenient than ever.
Check out college and university continuing education departments, as well as professional organizations, which may recommend specific courses and programs. Discuss continuing education with your supervisor or HR representative, as some employers offer incentives for employees continuing their education, like coverage of tuition costs and time off work.