When the seasonal festivities wrap up and the new year approaches, people start to look forward to new opportunities. The new year is here, and it’s the perfect time to reflect on your career and position yourself better. Whether you’re looking to advance in your current field, switch careers, or start your own personal brand, having clear and actionable goals can help you position yourself in the right direction and achieve success.
Positioning for career success in the new year doesn’t have to be difficult, and with a few simple tips, you can make the most of it.
Here are some way to get you started:
· Reflect On The Previous Year
Start by reflecting on what you’ve accomplished in the previous year of your career. Set aside some time and look at what you like about your present career and what you want your future career to look like. Ask yourself what you need from your new career in order to feel successful and why you feel the need to make a change. Think about where you want to end up, how you want to position yourself in the market, and what skills you have that are currently in demand in your new career path. If you take time to imagine your ideal role and how your skills align with it, you can see what sort of opportunities there are that fit your ideals. Ask yourself questions like, What are you most proud of doing last year? What challenges did you face? What would you have done differently? The answers to these questions will help you notice what you value and what you want to focus on next.
· Set SMART Goals
SMART goals are designed to be real and achievable, giving you a better chance of hitting them. Choosing around three to give SMART goals is a good place to start for your New Year career resolutions. When setting new career goals, it’s essential to make them SMART – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Specific goals are clear and concise, measurable goals have tangible outcomes, achievable goals are realistic, relevant goals align with your values, and time-bound goals have a deadline. SMART career goals could include getting a promotion, obtaining new certifications, learning new skills, or achieving a certain performance metric. For example, instead of saying, “I want to improve my writing skills,” a SMART goal could be, “I want to attend a writing workshop, write three blog posts per month, and submit an article to a publication within six months.” Think of it just like a New Year’s resolution. Saying you want to ‘be healthier’ is not necessarily easy to measure or achieve. Instead, you need to keep things SMART. Aiming to walk a certain number of steps a day is a lot more specific and measurable.
· Hold Yourself Accountable With Timelines
The key to achieving your goal is not just to write it down at the start of the year and forget about it. Instead, alongside each sub-step of your SMART goals, add a deadline that makes sense for what you’re trying to achieve. It’s easy to lose track of the bigger picture when you’re in the swing of university life and juggling assignments. That’s why we recommend using your calendar or setting reminders on your phone to check in on your goals each month or every few weeks. If you know you have a tendency to procrastinate, block out events in your calendar for completing particular tasks. Treat those events as non-negotiable to make sure you hold yourself accountable. You may need to move deadlines around and reprioritize depending on everything else that comes up in life and that’s okay. Unexpected changes happen, and it makes sense for you to update your goals as you go if you need to. The point of your goals is to keep you striving for success throughout your year. If they do that, then you’re on the right track, even if you have to reshuffle some things.
· Spend Time Networking
Achieving career goals is not something you have to do alone. It is time to start connecting with people who can help you. Surround yourself with supportive people who can encourage and celebrate your successes. Seek out a mentor or coach who can provide guidance and feedback. Join networking groups or professional organizations that align with your career goals. Engage with questions about the organisation, the field, and how they are doing in their careers. Be genuine with your contact, and they’ll likely share a wealth of information with you. Having support and accountability can make the journey easier and more enjoyable.
· Stay Positive
Keep in mind that big changes rarely happen overnight. They take planning, positioning, and time to achieve. Keep a positive attitude throughout your career change. If you’re actively looking for a job, understand that while recruiters definitely need your skill set, they are also looking for positivity and resilience, and they can see that shine through in the interview process. Stay confident in your search and articulate your values and goals in your CV and in any communications you have with an organisation. If you experience setbacks or obstacles, don’t let them derail you. Instead, be adaptable and adjust your plan accordingly. Remember that setbacks and failures are opportunities to learn and grow.
· Spend Time Networking
Achieving career goals is not something you have to do alone. It is time to start connecting with people who can help you. Surround yourself with supportive people who can encourage and celebrate your successes. Seek out a mentor or coach who can provide guidance and feedback. Join networking groups or professional organizations that align with your career goals. Engage with questions about the organisation, the field, and how they are doing in their careers. Be genuine with your contact, and they’ll likely share a wealth of information with you. Having support and accountability can make the journey easier and more enjoyable.
Setting new career goals for the new year doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It’s all about keeping yourself motivated and consistently challenging yourself. By following the tips stated earlier, you can position yourself to achieve the career success you desire. Remember that goal-setting is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the process and celebrate each step along the way.