Ready to take your career to the next level? Being the architect of your career path can be exciting, but is quite challenging. If you belong in a fast-paced and highly competitive industry, it can be easily intimidating. However, if your work becomes monotonous, things can get stagnant and you risk becoming complacent.
If you are feeling the latter and need some motivation and guidance, check out these steps below. Each one will add some insight on how to create new goals, strengthen your skillset and open yourself up to new opportunities.
Have SMART Goals
It’s easy to say that you want to be an accomplished CFO by 30, but is this really what drives you every day? Does this resonate with your current trajectory and your career goals for the next years? To ensure that you achieve a fool-proof plan, make sure to list clear-cut goals by following the SMART method. SMART = Specific, Measurable, Attainable, and Time-bound.
To get started, on a blank piece of paper, list all of the things that you want to accomplish in your field. Fold it and keep it in a place that you are likely to check. Repeat the same exercise after one week, and then again after another week. On the final week open your papers and start encircling all items that were duplicated on the pages. By doing this, you are closing in on the things that really matter to you. When you have your list cleaned, elaborate on it and then set your own timeline.
Upskilling
It’s great to have a good educational background. With the new advancements in technology, the birth of new concepts, and the emergence of various applications, it can be too overwhelming. Take some online courses that cover accounting concepts or bookkeeping. May it is simply a refresher course or new concepts, start your journey by taking some courses to keep you abreast of what’s new in the industry. According to Forbes, the term upskill is getting widely popular because of digital transformation and how it’s driving the digital economy. Most companies are taking a closer look at the certifications and online courses of a candidate that could potentially bring new perspectives to the team.
Know and grow your network
If you have a wide following in your social media, focus on growing your professional network too. Your presence on different professional media platforms allows you more chances of exposure to companies, recruiters, and headhunters. Just make sure your profile is up-to-date and you post relevant and interesting content. Try joining forums and discussions online to get some new insights and trends. And make sure that the groups, companies, and people you follow are influential in the financial world.
Getting started on SMART goal setting is the first step to help you, but can be hard to start. Don’t overthink it. Once you start, you will see that it becomes easier to focus on your career goals and design your activities to hit your goals. Keep in mind that you are doing this for yourself, so give it your best shot. Don’t get disheartened if things don’t change quickly, this is a long game!
