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#YourCareer : How To Crush Your Career Goals In The Second Half Of 2024. Great REad!

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As we have reached the midpoint of 2024, it is essential for both job seekers and employed workers to keep up the momentum in advancing your career in this current, ever-changing job market. You will need to devote time, energy and thought into maintaining career growth and job security.

Since it is midyear, now would be the opportune time to revisit the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the year. Evaluate the progress you have made and determine if any adjustments are needed, based on any changes in your circumstances or priorities. Don’t be afraid to refine and recalibrate your goals to ensure they remain relevant and achievable. The following strategies can position yourself for success.

What To Do In A Tough, White-Collar Job Market

Demonstrate your value proposition by showcasing how your skills, experience and contributions are a much needed asset to the organization. Always remain adaptable and open to change. Raise your hand and look for new, exciting internal opportunities within your organization to advance and earn more money.

By putting in the time and effort, show that you are committed to the company and its mission. Despite any setbacks or problems, always keep cool, exude a positive attitude and maintain a strong work ethic.

However, to play it safe, always be on the lookout for new and intriguing job leads to take your career to the next level. Continually build, cultivate and grow your professional network to gain insights into open jobs and other opportunities. Seek out mentors, coaches, recruiters and others who can help you guide your career in the right direction.

For Job Seekers

Stay up-to-date on industry trends and in-demand skills. Continuously upskill by taking courses, attending workshops or obtaining certifications relevant to your desired field. This will make you a more competitive candidate.

Leverage your network. Attend industry events, join professional associations and connect with people on LinkedIn. Your network can provide valuable insights, job leads and potential referrals.

Additionally, it is essential that you are tailoring your application materials to the specific job requirements for each role. Customize your résumé and cover letter for each job you apply to, highlighting how your skills and experience align with the specific role and company.

Do not go into a job interview unprepared. Before the meeting, research the company, practice answering commonly asked interview questions and have thoughtful questions ready to ask the interviewer.

To demonstrate that you are a proactive hard worker, it is important to show hiring managers that you did not let your skills atrophy during an employment gap. Consider a temporary gig, contract work or a bridge job to keep yourself busy, engaged and earning a steady paycheck. These opportunities can help you gain experience, build your network and potentially lead to a permanent position.

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What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

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For Current Employees

Foster positive relationships with colleagues, managers and cross-functional teams. A strong professional network within the company can open doors to new opportunities.

Document your achievements and keep track of your accomplishments, quantifiable results and positive feedback from colleagues or clients. This will help build a strong case for a raise or promotion.

Seek out new responsibilities and assignments, which will enable you to grow. Volunteer for projects or tasks that allow you to develop new skills and demonstrate your value to the company.

Schedule regular check-ins with your manager to discuss your goals, accomplishments and areas for growth. Be proactive in seeking feedback and addressing any concerns.

Participate in training programs, take online courses and attend industry events to enhance your knowledge and skills.

Look for ways to improve your online presence, networking activities and self-promotion strategies. Explore new platforms or channels to increase your visibility and reach potential employers or clients.

Maintain a positive mindset and celebrate small wins along the way. Acknowledge your accomplishments and those of your team or colleagues. Recognizing and appreciating progress can boost morale and motivation, helping you stay focused and energized for the second half of the year.

While pursuing your career goals, remember to prioritize self-care and work-life balance. Identify strategies to manage stress, recharge and maintain a healthy lifestyle. A balanced approach will help you sustain your productivity and avoid burnout.

How To Schmooze Your Boss

You want to make a plan to ingratiate yourself with your boss to get in their good graces, and increase your chances of earning a raise, promotion and bonus.

Consistently deliver high-quality work and results. Meet and exceed deadlines, pay attention to details and demonstrate your competence and reliability.

Find out your boss’ goals and priorities. Then, align your efforts to support those objectives. Take the next step by anticipating their needs and how you can make their life easier. For example, gather all the necessary documents and information for your boss before they go into an important meeting.

You want to be on the same page as your supervisor. Figure out the manager’s communication style and mirror it. For instance, if the manager likes face-to-face meetings, make yourself available. If the boss prefers emailed updates, send them accordingly.

Make your boss look good by offering solutions. Don’t complain and only point out the issues. Respect your manager’s time. Admit when you don’t know something and offer to find the answer or consult with someone who is knowledgeable on the matter.

Actively seek feedback from your boss on areas for improvement, and then take the steps to address their concerns. This shows your willingness to listen, learn, grow and develop.

 

Forbes.com – Jack Kelly

#CareerAdvice : #YourCareer – These are the Career Mistakes you Should Stay Away from This Year. Great & Must REad!

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The start of a new calendar year is a good time to reflect on the previous 12 months and devise a plan to improve things going forward. Whether you experienced a few career mishaps last year or progressed as expected, it never hurts to strive to do better.

With that in mind, here are a few critical mistakes you should avoid this year at all costs.

1. AVOIDING RISKS

It’s not easy to step outside your comfort zone and put yourself in a position where you might fail. On the other hand, if you don’t take any risks on the job, you might quickly end up stuck in a rut. The next time a great idea pops into your head, don’t ignore it. Rather, run with it and see where it leads. Even if it doesn’t work out, your boss will likely appreciate your ingenuity.

2. NOT CONTINUING TO LEARN

It’s easy enough to coast at work when things are going smoothly. After all, why shake things up when your boss seems pleased with your performance?

But if you don’t push yourself to keep learning and growing professionally, you’re likely to stunt your career growth and miss out on key opportunities to get promoted. So figure out which areas you’re lacking knowledge in and take steps to bridge those gaps, whether it means signing up for courses, attending conferences and seminars, or enlisting the help of a mentor.

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What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Continue of article:

3. GETTING EASILY FLUSTERED

It’s hard to keep your cool at work when deadlines loom and projects are dumped on you at the last minute. But if you don’t figure out a way to cope with job-related stress, you’re less likely to move forward at your company. As you ease your way into the new year, practice different stress-relief techniques until you find the one that’s most effective for you. At the same time, train your brain to better handle heated situations so that you come off as competent and collected.

4. NEGLECTING YOUR BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS

When it comes to furthering your career, the people you know are often just as important, if not more so, than the things you know. That’s why you can’t afford to neglect your business contacts, even if making time for them is challenging in its own right. Though you may not manage to sit down for lunch with your various associates on a monthly basis, you should, at the very least, reach out to each person in your network every few months to check in–especially since you never know when those folks might have a solid job opportunity that’s perfect for you.

5. ALLOWING YOURSELF TO BE UNHAPPY AT WORK

It’s an unfortunate fact that a large chunk of workers today are unhappy at their jobs. If you’ve taken steps to make your role better and nothing seems to be doing the trick, don’t resign yourself to another 12 months (or more) of misery. Instead, dust off your resume, reach out to your contacts, and seek out a job that you’ll find more fulfilling. The longer you allow yourself to stay at a job that makes you miserable, the more your performance is likely to suffer, and that’s a good way to hurt your reputation and get yourself fired.

6. NOT ASKING FOR A RAISE

Many people shy away from negotiating their salaries at work because they don’t want to come off as greedy or anger their managers. But you know what they say: If you don’t ask, you (often) don’t get.

Furthermore, if you approach that conversation the right way, you can pull it off in a manner that doesn’t damage your relationship with your boss. That means researching salary data so you’re able to present a reasonable number to your manager and going in prepared with a list of reasons why you deserve a boost. Either way, don’t avoid that discussion just because it makes you uncomfortable. In doing so, you’ll not only potentially lose out on money that could’ve been yours, but also create a situation where you might start to resent coming to work.

Now’s the time to evaluate your on-the-job habits and strive to do better. Steer clear of these blunders and with any luck, 2019 will be your most successful one yet.

 

FastCompany.com | January 9, 2019 | BY MAURIE BACKMAN—THE MOTLEY FOOL 3 MINUTE READ