Building Your Career One Day at a Time
By Morgan Cruz, MHI Marketing Content Coordinator |@mhi_morgan
Building your career is a process and the path to success is not always crystal clear. Whether you’re ready to take on a new opportunity or just landed one, here are a few tips to make sure you’re on a healthy path and getting the most out of your job.
Observe your Likes and Dislikes
Use the job you have now to figure out what you like and dislike. Which tasks make you excited and which make you feel unmotivated? Does your boss and the company’s action style match yours? The more you can observe about what you like and dislike about the company culture, work environment and daily activities, the more you will know what to look for in your next opportunity.
Be Awesome at Your Job
The best thing you can do in building your career is to be awesome at your job, even if you are not overjoyed by the work. This allows you to make a strong impression and build a professional network that is eager to give great referrals and references. If you decide to leave you job, you will have better negotiating power given you have already proven your worth. Lastly, don’t burn bridges; as they say “it’s a small world” and this could damage your professional network.
Continuously Learn Something New
Knowledge is power, so don’t shy away from what you don’t know. Find ways at your job to continuously learn something new. Sometimes this involves taking on a task that is out of your comfort zone and requires you to do some learning. Learn from your mistakes and enjoy the sense of accomplishment. In the end, you will develop skills to take with you and confidence you need to advance in your career.
Keep Your Resume Current
You never know what opportunities will come your way when you least expect it. That’s why it’s important to always have your resume ready and updated with new skills and accomplishments. Take a step back and see how you look on paper. Identify and work on any holes you need to fill such as certain education or skills. Need inspiration? Check out these 275 Free Resume Templates You Can Use Right Now .
Perhaps you’re not at your dream job or you don’t even know what your dream job is. For many professionals it takes time to figure out the right career. MHI’s Young Professionals Network can help you figure out your next career move and how to pivot strategically into your next opportunity. Thursday, May 18 the MHI YPN is hosting a free webinar: PIVOT: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One where you will experience an interactive workshop focusing on Jenny’s 4 stage Pivot Method. Register to identify your existing strengths, interests and experiences, and define your version of success.
