With the New Year fast approaching, you may be thinking about those pesky resolutions. If one of them is to make a change in your career, but you’re struggling to come up with an achievable, fulfilling resolution, here’s a few of our favorite ideas to help get that resolution engine running again:
Develop Leadership Skills By Volunteering – If you wanted to volunteer more anyway, you could kill two birds with one stone. Book-learning isn’t going to cut it when it comes to gaining true leadership experience. But don’t only volunteer at the soup kitchen. You can potentially make a big impact by volunteering for the board of a nonprofit you admire. Boards of directors provide strategic and financial leadership to ensure each organization’s vitality, integrity, and mission fulfillment. Make the most of your time on the board with these tips. (Also, here’s a quick 10 Point Test of Leadership).
Want That Promotion? Stretch Yourself. – You may be gaining more experienced, but your skills have probably plateaued if you’re not taking the time to “deliberately practice” new skills. Success in a career requires more than simply showing up early, staying late, and responding quickly to every email. True standouts systematically develop rare and valuable skills. But building these skills requires practice, which isn’t something that most people seek naturally. Follow these tips to turn your training brain back on. (Related: How to Master a New Skill)
Consider Treating Your Life Like a Grand Experiment. Maybe you’re looking to take the next step forward in your career. But staying with one company for decades and steadily working your way up the career ladder is gone, replaced by a much more difficult ascent to the top. All hope is not lost, it just means realigning your thinking about your career trajectory. Here’s our advice on how to envision the next steps in your career.
A Step By Step Guide to Landing Your Dream Job. Yes, job hunting is still a miserable experience. Just remember, as much as it seems like you’re the only one going through it, misery loves company (even if they’re on another laptop hundreds of miles away). Part one of our guide focuses on knowing your strengths – and recognizing your kryptonite. You also want to find the right work environment. (For more guidance, you can read part two here.)
Where Do You Look For Jobs Online? If you’re looking for new work, and would prefer working for a small business, you might be looking in the wrong place. Here’s our advice for job seekers trying to stay up to date. Hint: you might want to take a brief jaunt into the recent past. (Also make sure you’re digitally approachable).