Progressing in one’s career is a pretty common goal. But a lot of times, we get lazy where we are. Think about it- when was the last time you updated your linked in profile or your resume. I did update my linked in profile recently, but unfortunately, well, my resume is sadly out of date. It doesn’t show any of the consulting, or real estate investing and property management I’ve done. It also doesn’t show either of my new companies- Extension of You Home Care, or my Care Patrol of the Triangle Franchise. That is my own bad, and I know it. It’s so easy to let things go, because we are comfy where we are. That can be deadly, if you are suddenly faced with a job loss. So, here are some lessons I’ve learned, and am passing along to help you stay sharp in your career.
5 Tips to Stay Sharp in Your Career
- Keep your resume up to date. You should also keep your linked in profile up to date. You DO have a linked-in profile don’t you? Get on there, and start building your network, and getting recommendations from colleagues. The experience will help tremendously.
- Educate yourself. It doesn’t matter whether your career is health, or technology, or something else entirely. There are always opportunities for more education, and better skills. When was the last time you took a class? What was the last career-related book you read?
- Set Goals. Take the time to set goals. Even small ones- like get a promotion within two years, or acquiring a certain skill that you’ve had an eye on for a while. You don’t have to have the perfect 5 year plan like some people do, but you do need to have some sort of goals, and be working towards those goals.
- Solicit feedback regularly. Ask your manager or boss for feedback regularly. Figure out what you need to improve, and do so.
- Periodically, look for a new job. Go looking for a new job every 3-5 years. You will get a feel for what the skills are out on the market, and you can also practice interviewing. Even if you decide to stay put, you’ll keep your interview skills sharp.
Focusing on more than just your daily t0-do list is important. Make time to take stock of the bigger picture, and stay focused on your career, and where it’s going. If you don’t keep an eye on it, you run the risk of running adrift, and becoming less valuable to your company.
What skills do you think you need to focus on to stay sharp in your career?
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