For your career to advance at the pace you choose, there are more than a handful of resources you need to regularly use. With the right over-arching strategy and these tactics, you can make sure you're always growing (and almost as importantly, getting noticed).
Whether you're looking for a new job, a promotion or just a change of pace, these seven-plus career tools will make sure anyone you encounter in the working world will know exactly how you could help them or someone they know.
The SlideShare presentation below guides you through many of the necessary questions and tasks to set these tools up.
Your brand statement and career story show the general themes to your accomplishments. LinkedIn and your resume get into the details of the most impressive things you've done. Your cover letter will entice hiring managers to learn more about you. Your interview prep and bucket list will make sure you know how to deal with tough questions and help you see the big picture in the hiring process.
With those seven tools updated, optimized and mastered, you'll be in good shape, but it takes one more thing to put you over the top: creative thinking.
Creative Thinking
To get the most out of your effort and create more opportunities to grow, you need to think differently. "Think outside the box" may be an over-used term, but people talk about it for a reason. In this case, there's a more descriptive and relevant analogy: as an employee of the new economy, you need to be able to show that a square peg can fit into a round hole with the right changes.
You can adapt your services to many clients' needs, without changing your core values. After all, you can draw a circle inside that square (or vice-versa), cut out the difference, and still be left with the same piece of wood.
Whether it's through help with CareerHMO or working on your own, creative thinking can help establish you as a valuable addition to any team you join.
Everyone has heard of New Year's resolutions. You know, those promises we make to ourselves about things we'll do better in the year ahead. Sometimes these resolutions work, while other times we end up with gym memberships we never use! But have you ever heard of a career resolution? It's actually the same thing as a New Year's resolution, only career-focused.
However, with something as important as a career, you don't want to break these resolutions. That's why it's important to keep these goals manageable.
Here are four simple career resolutions that are easy to stick to and achieve.
Be Self-Aware Of Where You Stand In Your Career
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Being honest and self-aware of where you are in your career is the most important step in making strong career resolutions. If your career is going nowhere and you're unhappy, then it may be time to consider a career change, which will take you down a different path entirely.
But if you're happy and in good standing with your career, it's a lot easier to set goals for the year and build out a long-term career plan.
Find A Way To Grow Your Career
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Career growth is a very broad spectrum that means something different to everyone. It could be something as simple as improving on a weakness or building on a strength. It could also be learning a new skill or taking on additional responsibilities at work.
On a larger level, it could be seeking a promotion or moving into a leadership role.
Whatever the goal is, make sure it includes growing professionally. The worst thing you can do is stay the same! If you're not growing your career, you're dying—and becoming a lot less valuable to your employer. There are always ways to upskill!
Better Serve Your Professional Network
With current colleagues, former colleagues, and other professional acquaintances, you've probably built a solid professional network through the years. A strong professional network can come in handy if you lose your job or are looking to make a career change. However, you shouldn't just rely on your network when you're in need!
It's important to find ways to offer value to your network. This could include checking in with members of your network from time to time. Exchange messages on LinkedIn to see how they're doing or share relevant content of interest. If you can help someone in your network going through a career challenge, you should!
Maintaining a strong professional network is like an investment. If you want it to pay off, you have to put some time into it and be consistent.
Take Care Of Yourself
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Working on your career is hard work! It's okay to be selfish sometimes. Whether you're working to grow your career or looking for a new job, it's important to find balance.
Your family and health always come first, so make sure your career goals don't interfere with that. If you want to set aside time during the week to work on your career that's fine, but don't miss important family events or milestones.
Don't let your career goals get in the way of your health goals. Go to the gym, take a walk, or go for a jog. Balance is key to maintaining healthy career and life goals. Sometimes you just need to adjust that balance as you go.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.