1. Know your values
The place to start building
career success is with yourself. First, zero in on your values. Values are the
core principles that run your life. The more your career aligns with and honors
your values, the deeper the sense of satisfaction you will derive from what you
do.
2. Play to your strengths
Second, find your
strengths. It is easier and a lot more fun to play to your strengths than to
compensate for weaknesses. A great resource for identifying your strengths is
Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath where you buy the book and then take an
on-line assessment which generates a report of your top 5 strengths. Then see
how you can start playing to YOUR strengths!
3. Live your passions
Some people are able to
live their passions every day. For others, tapping into passions is more
challenging. Passions are often buried by belief systems and judgments that
convince you that what you love is not worthy of or capable of sustaining you
in a career. If that is your situation, think back to those childhood passions
and see what it would take to introduce more of those things into your life
right now.
4. Use your favorite skill
sets
What are you good at doing?
A great resource is the 7 Success Stories exercise in Richard Nelson Bolles’
seminal work, What Color Is Your Parachute? Think of the times that you have
been successful and then zero in on the specific steps that you took to get
there. These will tell you your best skills. Now pick your favorite skills and
see how you can apply them in your career.
5. Figure out how much
money you need to make
For anyone entering the job
market or thinking about a career switch, take a long hard look at your
finances. Do a budget. Decide on what kind of lifestyle is really important to
you. Then think about how much money you need to make to support yourself in
that lifestyle.
6. Have a plan
Once you have answered all
of the foregoing questions, do some research into different career scenarios
that combine your values, strengths, passions and favorite skills sets AND
provide you with the money that you need to make. Imagine yourself in those
careers. What will you be doing all day? Whom will you be working with? What do
you want to accomplish? Then go out and find out more about these areas. Make a
long-range plan for your career search and set quarterly, monthly and weekly
SMART goals.
7. Stay flexible
There are probably a number
of different areas that you could see yourself working in. Experiment and see
what you like best! Volunteer at a local non-profit. Join a committee. Take a
class.
Do you need additional
skills? Take a course or go for another degree.
Do you need another job or
two before you are ready for your ideal job? That’s okay since you are moving
in the right direction!
8. Network
Here’s the real secret of
career building: the best jobs come up because someone who knows you thinks
that you would be the right person for the job. So networking is a critical
piece of career success. Yet many people are afraid to network, thinking that
it is somehow impolite to ask others for help. Even worse, they way wonder why
would anyone want to spend time with someone new to the field.
And here’s another insight:
networking does not have to be scary. Think of networking as connecting with
another person so that the two of you are in sync and are relevant to each
other. Yes, you have something to contribute! People are always looking for
talent and those big executives/stars were once beginners just like you.
9. Get support
Seek out people who
understand your situation or are a positive influence. Join a support group or
create your own with like-minded friends. Hire a coach. Form your own personal
board of directors. This is not the time to be with naysayers!
10. Be good to yourself
Building a career can be
tricky so be good to yourself. Create a nourishment menu of fun, free things to
do that make you feel great. Keep a success journal documenting all the things
that you do well. If negative self-talk is holding you back, come up with a
mantra or affirmation that can remind you of yourself at your best. Make these
practices a habit throughout your life!
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