If you are going to progress your career in today's challenging market, you need to set clear objectives and create a razor-sharp plan. Whether you're looking to build you career with your current employer, move to another job or even change direction completely, these simple steps will help you get closer to where you want to be.
1. Take stock of your current job
If you’re feeling restless, you need to ask yourself whether it’s your job specifically or work in general that’s the root cause. A new challenge in your current role could restore your motivation, so consider what your prospects are in the coming year. Is there a chance of promotion or a new project? Could you develop your existing role, or extend your skills through training or a professional qualification? If you’ve considered all of these options, and still have itchy feet, it could be time to move on.
2. Make sure you’re on the right path
As the old adage says, “It’s better to be at the bottom of the right ladder than halfway up the wrong one.” If you are happy with the ‘ladder’ you are on, says Mike O’Kane, Associate Director at Astbury Marsden, you can forge ahead with the experience you already have. If you are convinced the ladder is the wrong one, you should consider changing direction. This takes courage, and you have to be realistic, says O’Kane. “You have to remember that many companies only hire people with exact experience for the job in hand, rather than putting their trust in someone from a different discipline.” But if you are highly motivated and persevere, it can pay off. O’Kane cites the case of a former broker who decided he wanted to become a private banker. “Some of his knowledge was transferable, but a lot of it was down to his personality. This guy spent time investigating the skills required and learned about relevant subjects such as trusts and inheritance tax – it took him nine months, but he got there in the end.”
3. Do a personal inventory
Before you start job hunting in earnest, it’s important to take a long hard look at what you have to offer. Corinne Mills, Founder of Personal Career Management and author of the bestselling book Career Coach says: “Understanding your ‘career capital’, how you add value to an organisation and being able to communicate that is key to a successful career. Remember to include in your analysis, skills and attributes you have but may not be using at the moment. Almost every client I have ever worked with has initially failed to appreciate the depth and breadth of their career capital. If you don’t know the value of what you’ve got, you are in danger of underselling yourself.”
4. Tailor your CV
When you’re clear about the direction you want to go in, you have to make your CV as strong as you possibly can. “An employer is going to get dozens of CVs for any job on offer, so yours has to stand out,” says O’Kane. “Keep your previous roles short and focus on your current strengths and how you can add value to the company in your new role. How can your unique style be used in your new position? What significant achievements have you made – such as hitting targets, improving sales and so on? Your CV needs to be a compelling sales pitch not a historical document.”
5. Hone your interview technique
“No matter what is on your CV, when it comes down to it you have to click with the people you are going to be working for and with,” says O’Kane. “And the interview is where the magic has to happen.” First impressions are key. Non-verbal communication is as important as what you say – research by the University of Pennsylvania shows that just 7 per cent of the impression you make is down to what you say – a strong (but not too strong) handshake, eye contact and open gestures (not folded arms). If you don’t know an answer, then say so, don’t fumble your way through. And at then end of the interview, always ask if there is anything the interviewer would like clarified, it’s an opportunity to clear up any misunderstandings and reassert your interest in the job.