Career plan

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It's time for your annual career checkup! What changes do you want to make in your work life next year? Do you want a new job or a promotion? Do you want to keep doing the same things work-wise but with a new employer? Do you want to change career directions altogether? Are you happy where you are but want to boost your performance?

Regardless of your career situation, the new year offers you a clean slate. If you're a goal-driven person, then you probably set performance targets for yourself at work and in your personal life. Now that the new year is here, it's time to set your career goals for the next 12 months.

Remember to keep your goals SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound).

What To Consider As You Set Your Career Goals For The New Year


Man on laptop thinks about his career goals for the next year

Relationships

Armed with a list of the most critical relationships in your work life, set a goal for each. What's the one action you can take that will sustain or improve each relationship?

Past Goals

Are you carrying forward any of last year's goals into this year? If so, make a note of them. In addition, jot down the primary goals you would like to achieve in your career this year. Are you aiming to land a new job or a promotion by a certain date? Or are you planning to clarify your career next steps or explore a new industry?

Career Trajectory

What title, employer type, and industry would you like to be in by the end of this year? Aim high and dream big, and then work backward to detail the path you will need to take to achieve this trajectory.

Personal Brand

Which elements of your personal brand would you like to refine and capitalize on more this year? How will you do this? What types of projects, assignments, and roles will enable you to develop your personal brand at work?

Career Values

What are the top three career values you would like to honor most throughout this next year?

Career Passions

What are the top three career passions you would like to express throughout the coming year?

Career Gifts/Talents

What are the top two career gifts or talents you would like to use this year?

Industry Trends

Which industry trends are most likely to impact your career in the coming year? What specific actions can you take in the next 12 months to make those impacts as positive as possible? What can you do to mitigate any potential negative impacts?

Personal and Professional Development

What new personal or work-related skills do you plan to develop this year? What formal or informal training will you complete? Remember that once you officially enroll in a class or program, you can add it to your resume and LinkedIn profile—just make sure you clarify that you are enrolled and have not yet completed it. Once you've completed the class or program, you can note this completion on your resume or LinkedIn profile as well.

Achievements

What achievement opportunities exist for you in your current role this year? Are there projects or initiatives that you think will enable you to solve a problem, improve sales, innovate, or help the company achieve shared goals?

Achieving Your Career Goals


Woman takes notes and writes down career goals she wants to achieve

Once your plan is crafted, put legs under it by tying your goals and plans to specific dates in your planner. Break larger annual goals into small weekly chunks and make sure you access support for each goal you set.

  • Who can assist you in achieving each goal?
  • What information or resources do you need to pursue these goals?
  • What new skills or success habits must you put in place to realize these goals?
  • What changes or adaptations will you have to make, and how will you go about executing those?
  • What barriers to accomplishing these goals are in your way or could arise? How will you overcome these barriers?

Put your career plan in a form that feels right to you. Store it where you will see it often (preferably daily) and schedule monthly reviews of your plan. Each month when you reread it, make a note of your progress, successes, and problems. Get help when you need it—don't wait until the year is nearly over to admit that you need support to achieve a goal. Most of all, though, have fun with your goals. Resolutions are supposed to bring us joy!

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Annual Career Checkup: Your New Year In …



It's easy to think that taking a lower-level position means putting the brakes on your career track or even taking a step back. But in fact, there can be a lot to gain with such a decision.

Sometimes you have to take a step back in order to take a step forward in your career. There are a number of practical reasons why taking a lower-level position makes sense.

Career Changers


A large percentage of professionals making a career change will face the need to start near the beginning with entry-level workers. If you make a drastic career change, such as going from ER nursing to accounting on the CPA track, you can't expect an opportunity to jump right to the top until you have honed skills and subject matter expertise.

Of course, if you have transferable skills from a previous career that may help to secure an opportunity above entry-level.

Field Of Practice Changers


Professional prepares for a work meeting

There are many people who choose to stay in their profession, but make a change in their field of practice. For example, you may have started your career in marketing for the travel industry, but decided to switch to the pharmaceutical industry.

A lateral move may not always be possible because, like the career changer, you may not have the industry knowledge needed in the field, especially if it is a highly specialized sector. For instance, the technical language used to market pharmaceuticals in the United States follows strict guidelines approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The approaches taken to marketing may be drastically different between the two fields.

Job Changers


A manager welcomes a new employee to the company on her first day

Job changers include individuals who want to make a switch in the type of company or organization they work for. Certainly, working for a non-profit is not the same as corporate, and going from an agency to an in-house position has its differences. So while you may take a lower-level position, the title and associated responsibilities may vary widely between employers—and it is important to consider the experiences and opportunities available with the open position.

For instance, you may go from an agency to an in-house position at a lower level. Expectations for formal promotions also may vary given the different corporate cultures involved. Essentially, you may start off in what is perceived as a lower-level position, but wind up with far more advanced experiences than you might otherwise have.

The (Extended) Unemployed Candidate


Unemployed professional ponders his career options

Times of economic uncertainty typically result in a large pool of unemployed professionals who are well-educated and qualified for positions. Under such circumstances, it's not rare for job seekers to be unemployed for six months or longer. There are simply more qualified candidates than job openings available. So, it may come to a point where you have to make the decision to take a lower-level position in order to:

  • Bring home a paycheck to pay for essentials.
  • Maintain your marketability (after such an extended period of unemployment, it may be a greater setback to remain unemployed—your marketability withers with time away from the market).
  • Help secure a better job opportunity down the road (employers typically favor candidates who are already employed).

Regardless of the situation, here are four key questions you should ask yourself to help decide whether taking a lower-level position is the right move for you and your career:

  1. Does this type of job fit into my long-term career goals? Essentially, will it get me where I want to be down the road?
  2. After taking this position and settling in, if I go back on the job hunting track, will I be able to communicate to a potential employer how the experience has helped me grow and evolve to be prepared for this next position?
  3. Do I believe I can excel in the position and create realistic opportunities to advance within the company?
  4. Will I be happier in the position? Most people spend much of their life working, so it is important to be happy with what you do. Be wary of how dissatisfaction with a job can quickly lead to burnout.

If you answered "yes" to the questions above and can put your ego aside, making the decision to take a lower-level position can be a rational move to help move your career forward. You can expect to be happier with life and your career. However, after taking a lower-level position, you need to maintain perspective on your reasons for the decision. It is easy to let pride get in the way of things. Remember this decision is based on a long-term plan, not a short-term plan for your career.

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How To Successfully Manage Your Career Goals



When it comes to having career goals, it's important to aim high. But sometimes the challenge we all face in aiming high is putting too much pressure on ourselves and then becoming overwhelmed. Achieving your career goals is all about balance.

The best way to achieve your career goals without putting too much pressure on yourself is to understand that it's very unlikely that you'll achieve your goals overnight. You have to build a career plan, be flexible about it, and work to chip away at the goals that you set.

Here are three ways that you can successfully manage your career goals:

Set Mini Goals


A business woman celebrates a small win after accomplishing a mini goal

Setting mini goals is a way to help accomplish your overall goals, but in a way that is manageable and less overwhelming. For example, say your goal is, "I want to be promoted in a few years." This is a solid and ambitious goal, but for some, it can be difficult to know where to start in making this goal a reality.

This is where mini goals come into play. In order to put yourself in a position to get promoted, you can start with the mini goal of, "I want to do something every month to help grow my career."

Accomplishing this mini goal could include taking a month to focus on courses or certifications that will help you upskill, using another month to put greater emphasis on your networking efforts, and using yet another month to learn a new skill entirely. All these mini goals help make you a more well-rounded employee, and that type of effort adds up over time.

There's no guarantee that you'll get promoted in a few years. There are so many factors at play, but focusing on career growth will at least put you in a position to be considered.

Build Better Career Habits


This is similar to setting mini career goals in the fact that you're taking small steps to achieve a larger benefit. Changing the smallest habits can make a huge difference in your career.

One habit that many job seekers can improve on is how often they update their resumes. A lot of people don't update their resumes until they're applying for a job, but a better habit would be updating your resume every six months.

Updating your resume every six months helps you keep track of things you've done to learn and grow your skills. It's much easier to remember recent events than to try to go back three years ago to assess what you've learned. It can also be motivating, as it can serve as a good reminder of the skill gaps that you still need to fill.

Other career habits to change could include cutting out 20 minutes of daily social media time to focus on your career instead or making it a point to reconnect with one LinkedIn connection a week.

Creating better habits can go a long way toward helping you accomplish your career goals.

Incorporate The 3 Cs Into Your Career Goals


Young professional on laptop takes online courses to help advance her career goals

At Work It Daily, we're big proponents of the 3 Cs because they can help professionals at all levels of their career journey, including those looking for a job, aiming for a promotion, or exploring other ways to grow their careers.

Here's a refresher on the 3 Cs:

Content: There's a lot of great information on the internet, including at Work It Daily, that can help professionals plan their career goals, including video tutorials, online quizzes, blogs, etc.

Coaching: Whether it's an online coaching platform like Work It Daily, or consulting with a trusted colleague or friend who has had career success, take advantage of the knowledge of others.

Community: Whether it's a coaching community, or someone you know also trying to get their career in order, it's always best to not address career challenges alone. In addition, it never hurts to have positive reinforcement.

All of these small steps can make a big difference in helping you accomplish your career goals, and the best part is that it's all manageable. As long as you have these small goals in mind, and stay organized, you can grow your career without feeling overwhelmed.

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How To Successfully Manage Your Career Goals

How A Recession Could Impact Your Career



Whispers about a possible recession have been in the air for a few years, but those whispers grew a lot louder recently with many economists highlighting various economic indicators pointing toward a possible recession in the immediate future.

Recessions can impact everyone differently, but history indicates that there will be mass layoffs, fewer jobs, more competition for jobs, and less job security.

Here's what you need to know about a potential recession's impact on your career:

Common Situations People Find Themselves In During A Recession


Man stressed about work during a recession

As stated above, a recession impacts everyone differently. Any issue with the economy will impact consumers' wallets in one way or another but things can become particularly painful when it impacts your livelihood.

From a professional standpoint, the most common situations people find themselves in during a recession include:

Feeling trapped in a job they hate - Perhaps you were looking to leave your current job and make a career change, but the recession put the brakes on that. A person trapped in a job they hate can be less productive and many times the unhappiness from their professional life bleeds into their personal life.

Getting laid off from a job - This is the most painful consequence of a recession. It has a significant impact on a person emotionally. It also forces them to pick themselves up and enter into a competitive job market. And the awkward and uncomfortable fact is that if you are laid off, you're better off being involved in a company's first round of layoffs. Those let go in a second round of layoffs must enter into an even more competitive job market where their former co-workers already have a head start on them.

Being forced to accept a job they don't want - People have bills to pay and it's not uncommon for some to become so frustrated with the job search process that they eventually settle for any job offer they get. This is especially painful for anyone that may have been laid off from a career they loved. Going from a career you love to one you don't could make you a less productive worker and could also have major emotional impacts.

Struggling to land a job at all - This is the worst-case scenario. Not only is the job market ultra competitive, but those who have lost a job are interviewing for new ones with an urgency that sometimes comes across as desperation. The more times a person gets rejected from a job, the more desperate they become and the more it impacts them during job interviews. The unfortunate truth is that those who are laid off during a recession are at a disadvantage because recruiters are more likely to hire people that are already employed.

How To Know If A Recession May Impact Your Career


Woman on laptop concerned a recession may impact her career

There will be some common sense signs such as the state of your industry and the overall health of the company you work for, but beyond that, there are typically six strong indicators that your job is at risk during a recession.

The biggest indicator starts with doing an honest self-assessment about yourself because if you don't have a long-term career goal in place, you are vulnerable to losing your job during a recession.

If you're currently just getting by at your job but can't define what you do particularly well or the value you provide the company, that's a major red flag.

A solid long-term career goal involves a 2-5 year plan that highlights the skills and expertise that you provide to a company and what the company's return on investment would be if they hire you. This is all about creating and maintaining your personal brand. Your career goal should also include a plan for how you want to continue to grow professionally.

While having this plan in place doesn't make you recession-proof, it will put you in a better position if the worst-case scenario does occur!

How To Prepare Your Career For A Recession


Nothing in this world is foolproof but there are certain steps that you can take now at your current job that will make you less vulnerable during a recession.

It all starts with being an engaged employee who strives to always exceed expectations at work.

You should be the type of employee who has career goals in place. You know what value you provide the company and how you're going to provide it.

You should also be the type of employee who reaches out to management from time to time to see what you can do to increase your value to the company. An engaged employee is a valuable employee!

It's not a matter of if a recession is coming; it's when. Make sure you're prepared!

Need more help preparing your career for a recession?

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How A Recession Could Impact Your Career

How To Recession-Proof Your Career In 2023



Are anyone worried you won’t property a job in the present job market? Or are people worried your current part might be eliminated at some sort of moment’s notice? If therefore, we have a coaching series for you to help check out!

In each of our latest live class, we’ll educate you on how to remain employable and relevant inside the job market through these tough times.

We almost all remember 2008. It has been a challenging coming back numerous. Now, we’re painfully returning to the idea of residing through another recession.

With mass layoffs, hiring freezes, and furloughs happening due to financial influences, many are questioning this security and stability of the futures. You may actually be thinking about the relaxing question, “Am I subsequent? ”

Inside our 4-week class, you’ll learn what you require to fag order towards secure opportunities even while in hard times.

You should take this particular training if:

  • You’re fearful regarding your future
  • You’re worried nobody will certainly hire you
  • You’re unsure showing exactly how to recession-proof your career

Join our CEO, M. T. O'Donnell, and Movie director of Training Development and Coaching, Christina Burgio, with regard to this live event collection on Wednesdays at twelve pm ET from The month of january 4th-25th.

CAN'T ATTEND RESIDE? That's alright. You'll have entry to often the recording and the workbook following the session!


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How To Recession-Proof Your Career In 2023

4 Simple Career Resolutions For 2023



Everyone has heard of New Year's resolutions. You know, those promises that we make to ourselves about things that we'll do better in the year ahead. Sometimes these resolutions work, while other times we end up with gym memberships we never use!

But, have you ever heard of a career resolution? It's actually the same thing as a New Year's resolution, only career-focused.

However, with something as important as a career, you don't want to break these resolutions. That's why it's important to keep these goals manageable.

Here are four simple career resolutions that are easy to stick to and achieve:

Be Self-Aware Of Where You Stand In Your Career


Happy woman works toward her career goals

Being honest and self-aware of where you are in your career is the most important step in making strong career resolutions. If your career is going nowhere and you're unhappy, then it may be time to consider a career change, which will take you down a different path entirely.

But if you're happy and in good standing with your career, it's a lot easier to set goals for the year, and build out a long-term career plan.

Find A Way To Grow Your Career


Smiling man writes down his career goals and resolutions on his laptop

Career growth is a very broad spectrum that means something different to everyone. It could be something as simple as improving on a weakness or building on a strength. It could also be learning a new skill or taking on additional responsibilities at work.

On a larger level, it could be seeking a promotion or moving into a leadership role.

Whatever the goal is, make sure it includes growing professionally. The worst thing that you can do is stay the same! If you're not growing your career, you're dying—and becoming a lot less valuable to your company. There are always ways to upskill!

Better Serve Your Professional Network


With current colleagues, former colleagues, and other professional acquaintances, you've probably built a solid professional network through the years. A strong professional network can really come in handy if you lose your job or are looking to make a career change. However, you shouldn't just rely on your network when you're in need!

It's important to find ways to offer value to your network. This could include checking in with members of your network from time to time. Exchange messages on LinkedIn to see how they're doing or share relevant content of interest.

If you can help someone in your network going through a career challenge, you should!

Maintaining a strong professional network is like an investment. If you want it to pay off, you have to put some time into it and be consistent.

Take Care Of Yourself


A young professional exercises

Working on your career is hard work! It's okay to be selfish sometimes.

Whether you're working to grow your career or looking for a new job, it's important to find balance.

Your family and health always come first, so make sure your career goals don't interfere with that. If you want to set aside time during the week to work on your career that's fine, but don't miss an important family events or milestones.

Don't let your career goals get in the way of your health goals. Go to the gym, take a walk, or go for a jog. Balance is key to maintaining healthy career and life goals. Sometimes you just need to adjust that balance as you go.

Need help accomplishing your career resolutions?

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4 Simple Career Resolutions For 2023

3 Career Resolutions You’ll Need To Succeed In 2023



Are you currently afraid of typically the thought that you’ll enter in the new year along with no success in your own career goals? Have you been uncertain of what you want to because of obtain noticed in your career efforts today? Do an individual have little to simply no success in getting discovered by employers? If therefore, you're in the proper place!

Each year, millions of people create New Year's resolutions around hopes to drive a good improvement. While there are usually different types of settlements you can choose to be able to implement, your career ought to be heavily considered.

Research has identified that people who have a tendency to make these promises are ten-times more probably to reach their objectives than people who don’t create resolutions for on their own. The best way for you to get ready for your career achievement inside the new year is usually to develop these file sizes in advance!

In this training, you’ll learn:

  • Why it’s thus important to get resolutions on place for your career development
  • How you can pinpoint effective career answers that will get anyone noticed while you enter this new year
  • The modern job research strategy you need to help implement that will push motivation

Join the CEO, J. T. O'Donnell, and Director of Coaching Development & Coaching, Christina Burgio, for this survive event on Wednesday, January 21st at 12 pm hours ET.

CAN'T ATTEND SURVIVE? That's ok. You'll have entry to often the recording and the workbook following the session!


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3 Career Resolutions You’ll Need To Succeed …

3 Ways To End The Year On A Positive Note



It's easy to become distracted at work as the end of the year approaches. With the holidays drawing near, many people start thinking about their upcoming time off and making plans with family and friends. But it's important to not let this joyous time of year get you off track at work and put you into a holiday slump.

A sluggish finish to the year could easily spoil what was mostly a good year on the job. The good news? It's possible to enjoy this time of year and continue to crush it at work!

Here's how...

Get A Jump On Next Year's Goals


Businessman continues to work hard during the holidays

Chances are you have already started outlining goals for the year ahead. So, why not start on them immediately? It's even likely that some of your goals from the previous year may carry over into the new year.

You don't have to wait until the clock strikes midnight to begin working toward your goals for the year ahead.

Write down all your goals, professional and personal, and determine a good starting point. Working from ahead not only gives you a good sense of pride, but when the time does come to take some time off for the holidays, you'll be able to enjoy it more.

Take Some Time To Bond With Co-Workers


Friendly coworkers talk during a meeting

While you don't want the holidays to interfere and distract you from your work responsibilities, they do provide a great opportunity to bond with your co-workers. Whether it's through a company gift exchange, or some form of holiday party (even if it's virtual), take some time to check in with your co-workers, and recognize them for all they do to help the company, and make your job easier.

Having a cordial relationship with your co-workers is something that takes constant work, so it's extremely important to show appreciation when you can. The workforce doesn't have to be best friends, but it's good for overall morale, and sometimes job performance, that everyone gets along and respects their colleagues.

​Take Stock Of Where You Are In Your Career


Businessman reflects on the current state of his career

This is an opportunity to do an honest assessment of yourself and where you are in your career. By doing this assessment, you can chart out and adjust your long-term career plan. This is a much larger task than just setting goals for the year. But doing this at the end of the year is beneficial, as you have another year's worth of information to help guide your thought process.

If things aren't going well, you'll want to come up with potential solutions, and if one of those solutions is a career change, it's best to begin planning immediately.

While starting the new year with career uncertainty isn't ideal, approaching this challenge with a plan in place will give you confidence and focus for the year ahead.

As long as you find ways to remain focused and have something to work toward, it's very possible to avoid a holiday slump and enjoy the end of the year. It's all about balance!

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How To Prepare For A Career Discussion With Your Boss



In order to have a productive discussion about career growth with your boss, it is important for you to prepare and think through some key items ahead of time. You want to be in full control of your career path and the best way to do that is to approach your manager with confidence and conviction around your career growth goals.

To prepare for the discussion, start by answering some basic questions about yourself and your career:

Basic Career Questions You Should Ask Yourself


What is your personal branding statement with regard to your career?

This response should focus on what you hope to achieve in your career.

What are your values?

This response should include your top five values in life. The importance of answering this question is to be sure your career goals match your current values. For example, if you value innovation, that influences your career choice and objectives.

What are your motivators?

This response includes examples of what motivates you. Is it fast-paced work with short deadlines? Is it structured work or flexible work? As with your values, you want to be sure your career objectives align with your motivators.

Deeper Career Questions To Ask Yourself


Businessman thinks about career goals in preparation for a meeting with his boss

What is your short-term career objective?

This response should be about where you see yourself in the next 12 months. If you want to be in a new assignment, then you should state that, as well as what that assignment could be. If you want to remain in your current role but perhaps take on additional duties, then include that information in this question response.

What is your long-term career objective?

This response highlights your ultimate career growth objective. Some people do not know what this is, but if you do, it is important to share it with your manager. This helps your career plan to be tailored toward reaching your ultimate career goals.

Questions For Planning Career Growth


Manager goes over her employee's career goals

What are your strengths?

This response focuses on your current strengths that you can leverage as you grow in your career.

What are your developmental areas?

This is about the areas where you need to grow so you can reach your career objective.

What are you willing to do in the next 12 months to reach your career objective(s)?

This response should focus on some specific, tactical items (SMART goals) that you can work on over the next 12 months. Consider this your action plan to reach your objective.

After Preparing For A Career Discussion With Your Boss


Confident professional is ready to move forward after important career discussion with manager

After you have these questions answered and feel comfortable with your responses, it is time to share this information with your manager. Ask your boss for input on your career growth objectives and whether they feel these are reasonable and achievable.

Ask them for input on your strengths and development areas and also request their support of your action plan. This will aid in your ability to be successful in reaching your objectives.

By taking the time to answer these questions and prepare for your career discussion, it will be much more productive and, hopefully, a more engaging discussion for both you and your manager.

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Why It’s Important To Have A Career Plan



Almost everyone has some sort of significant goal or aspiration they hope to achieve in the future. For a lot of people, this includes some type of long-term career plan or dream job that they would like to obtain.

While these major objectives may seem difficult or even impossible to achieve, they can appear much more manageable through the use of a career plan. The future can provide an extremely uncertain ride, but having a solid career plan in place can serve as a reliable roadmap to get you wherever you would like to go.

Here are three reasons why you should have a solid career plan.

Career Planning Helps Us Grow


Man writes down his career goals

Having a realistic career plan in place is often an essential part of career growth, and our personal growth and development. Without goals to strive for, most people find it difficult to stray from the easy norm or gain skills which make them a more valuable commodity in the business world.

If your career isn't growing, it's dying! Failing to put together a career plan that will help you grow professionally could lead to a career crisis.

By planning for the future and setting a specific timeline for accomplishing the things you want to achieve, you will find that your career plan is an effective way to ensure you never lose motivation along the way. Between the accountability of having fixed objectives and the inspiration you'll receive when you attain your career growth goals, your career plan is an opportunity to maximize your true potential.

A Career Plan Will Help You Land Your Dream Job


Successful businesswoman is happy working her dream job every day.

If one of the important destinations in your future is a much-desired job or position, a career plan truly is a roadmap to help you reach it. Job boards are full of available positions, but often the most desired and competitive jobs require a significant amount of prerequisite experience or education. It's very rare that someone will simply fall into their dream job.

Most commonly, it takes years of planning your career growth, hard work, and even a little bit of luck to develop your current situation into the career of your dreams. By isolating exactly what you'll need to accomplish in order to be a candidate for the job you truly want, fulfilling the needed tasks will become much easier and your chances of success will be much higher.

A Career Plan Is Essential To Planning Your Retirement


Older professional goes over his retirement plan.

Having a realistic career plan in place is not just about work. In fact, a great career plan should have a much longer view. Unless your dream job is something that you want to do every single day of your life, your career plan can also be used to determine the steps needed to smoothly enter into retirement down the road.

Incorporating a rudimentary knowledge of financial planning into your career goals and setting yourself up for retirement through proper savings and the allocation of investments will serve as a great way to wrap up your long-term career plan.

Working in your dream job may be where you would like to see yourself in ten years, but what about when you're in your 60s or 70s?

Career planning may intimidate some people who are unsure about the direction they would like to take decades down the road. Instead of being a set-in-stone list of rules and objectives you must follow, your career plan should instead be viewed as simply a way to get what you want.

As frequently as our wants and needs change, the tasks we must accomplish in order to achieve them change just as fast. Having a career plan can help you design your future the way you would like it, but can also be flexible enough to change when your personal ambitions and goals do.

If you're struggling to create a career plan and grow as a professional, we can help.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.



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Why It’s Important To Have A Career …