Compare your career to a stock investment. They share many traits in common. You commit resources to the endeavor and hope for #totheMoon-style upside.
Of course, stock trading can become a risky undertaking. That shouldn’t be true with professional development. By using the right techniques, you can set yourself up for a massive return on your investment.
Here are some tips to get the most out of your career investment. Use these techniques to send your professional life #totheMoon:
Create a Personalized Career Roadmap
The first step to maximizing your career: knowing where you want to go. Yes, you want to end up on the moon, at least metaphorically speaking. But what does that look like?
A detailed consideration of what you want to achieve will let you sketch out a roadmap for your career. You can pinpoint an eventual destination. From there, you just need to identify the best steps to reach that objective.
Get Additional Education
Keep learning. This can include formal education, like getting a degree or a professional certification. These additional qualifications should upgrade your earning potential.
A degree or a professional certification offers great ways to expand your horizons. They also provide fantastic line items in the education section of your resume. However, they can also be time-consuming endeavors.
Luckily, there are other avenues to improve your education. You can also add more informal improvements. Take steps to:
- Expand your soft skills
- Keep up with technology
- Stay current about your industry
- Pick up general business skills by reading, listening to podcasts, etc.
Make Networking a Priority
Major career moves often come about as a result of a personal connection. Even in a tech-driven world, old-school networking remains a key part of any professional development plan.
Continually add to your network. At the same time, look for ways to deepen relationships with your current connections. By sharpening these skills, you’ll open the door to unexpected opportunities.
Also, be available to help others. On a basic level, doing this just feels good. But it has concrete professional benefits as well. You never know when they’ll be able to return the favor.
Build a Professional Brand
Think about how the outside world perceives you. At the same time, consider the question: “if I had to interview for a new job, what could I use to showcase my value?”
A professional brand represents your reputation within your industry. It describes how you are perceived by the outside world.
You cultivate a strong brand by managing your outward-facing presentation. Do this through tools like your LinkedIn profile or a professional blog.
These items will help you impress when it comes time to apply for a job. They could also invite surprise chances to advance. After all, companies often target passive candidates with high profiles.
Seek Out Opportunities
Don’t be satisfied with your current situation. That doesn’t mean you should keep your career in constant motion, continually jumping from job to job. But you should remain on the lookout for a professional upgrade.
A recruiter can help you find these #totheMoon opportunities. A top staffing agency, like Recruiting In Motion, can put you in a perfect situation for your skills and experience.
Contact Recruiting In Motion today to find out more.
