Do you constantly depend on other people for your career success? It would only leave you depressed and burnt-out because the only person in charge of your success is you.
Perhaps you dislike your job, have a bad boss, insulting pay, calm down, it is time you take ownership of your career. Here is how to go about it:
1.Take stock of your skillset
Write down your best skill sets, and how you can use those skill sets to add value to a company. Think of all the quantifiable examples of the times that your skills have helped previous employers, and other examples of your skill sets standing out from everyone else. When you do this, you build your personal brand and organize how you want to market yourself as a business-of-one to employers.
2. Be proactive
You have to ditch being reactive and start being proactive instead. Reactive activities include, but aren’t limited to, the following: waiting for your boss to give you a promotion, waiting for recruiters to reach out to you with new opportunities, or waiting for employers to email you back about your resume. Instead, set up a meeting with your boss to discuss advancement opportunities or make a bucket list of companies that you want to work at, and then reach out to employees at those companies to connect, and maybe even set up informational interviews. It’s also important to submit your cover letter and resume to an actual person when applying for a job, and following up with that hiring staff.
3. Build your professional network
Your network is your net worth, the saying holds true. Get by with a little help from your career friends! Focus your efforts on building your professional network. Meet new people within your industry and bucket list companies. Start conversations and build relationships with them. Even if you’re not ready to find a new job or change careers yet, having these people in the wings as references, mentors, and professional contacts will help you tremendously. They can provide tips and insight, act as a sounding board for ideas, and even hook you up with a job. Just ensure you create a win-win situation, where they benefit as you benefit from the job runs.
4. Move out of your comfort zone
Remember nothing would change if you don’t. Make an effort to put yourself out there and meet new people. Set up informational interviews with like-minded professionals, strike up a conversation with someone at a conference, and attend in-person or virtual networking events.