Are you feeling stagnated? Is that inner voice suggesting that there should be more to your career than your current status? Summer is a great time to step back, evaluate your professional journey, and ensure you are on the best path. Whether you change direction or give your career a boost, these tactics will help ensure success – tipping the scales in your favor.
Network
Networking is essential. It may be the lifeblood of your career –the key to opening doors. Skeptical, are you? Check out the following statistics from appollotechnial.com.
- 85% of jobs are filled through networking (Hubspot)
- 70% of jobs are never published (CNBC)
- 80% of professionals find networking essential to career success
- 95+% believe face-to-face meetings build stronger relationships
- 41% think they need to network more often.
Networking is one of the best ways to increase knowledge, garner career advice, broaden your perspective, and open the door to career opportunities. In addition, it helps you gain confidence and a more-rounded and well-known profile – all while building long-lasting personal and professional relationships.
Does your networking need a little polish? This article by Kat Boogaard for go skills is a great resource and a worthwhile read.
Career Coaching
Wait. Maybe your network is stable and growing, and the real problem is that you suddenly don’t know “what you want to be when you grow up.” Yes, even seasoned professionals working for 25+years can experience this phenomenon. A career coach might be your best answer. Of course, career coaching involves a time investment and your credit card, but it can be one of your best’ investments’.
Career coaches help their clients:
- Determine the direction they want to take
- How to evaluate and set goals to make it happen
- Reinvent your resume and upskill wisely
- Improve your interview skills and techniques
If you choose to go this route, take time to investigate first. Ask questions:
- What are their trainings, certifications, and experiences?
- What is their coaching style?
- Does their personality mesh with yours?
- Do they do sample sessions?
- What are their fees?
Social Media Presence
Social media can play a positive – or negative – role in boosting your career. A 2020 Harris poll reported that 67% of employers use social media sites to research candidates, and 70% believe that every company should screen potential candidates’ social media profiles when considering them for a job opportunity. Additionally, more than half of employers surveyed admitted to ruling out candidates due to their social media presence.
This Career Tool Belt article by Alison Doyle offers advice on using your social media presence to help your career.
And if you need a little cleanup – check out these posts:
- https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-clean-your-social-media-job-hunting/
- https://smartsocial.com/post/social-media-clean-up
Upskilling
Continuing your education provides a structured path to learning the skills you need for success. Depending on where you are in your career, this could be as simple as joining a professional group such as Toastmasters International to improve your speaking and presentation skills or investing in a six-week class to earn additional certification. On the other hand, it could involve investing significant time (and expense) in something such as getting a master’s or Ph.D.
The key is determining where you want to take your career and choosing the most viable option for learning or enhancing the appropriate skills. Even if you are changing your career direction, you can build on the skills and experience you currently have to prepare yourself for a better professional future. The bottom line is to master your skills in the industry of your choice.
Practice Your Interviewing Skills
Whether you are seeking a promotion where you are currently employed or looking for a new job, how well you interview will play a significant role. So, if you want to tip the scales in your favor, learn the ropes and don’t skip the prep and practice. Susan Shor’s article for resume.io, 7 Interview Skills that Will Get You Hired in 2022, is a great starting point.
Make the summer of 2022 your career-boosting summer. Visit the team at Daley and Associates. We place candidates with the companies where your career can grow. From Accounting and Finance, Administrative and HR positions to IT, Legal, and Life Science, we care about your career growth and satisfaction. Contact us today.
