The Motley Fool
Whether you hit a career slump
this year or, worse yet, got demoted, there's no reason to think you
can't quickly turn things around. With a new year right around the
corner, now's the perfect time to map out a strategy for revitalizing
your career. Click through to see six solutions that'll help you get
back on track.
1.
Take initiative
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[post_ads]If your career hasn't been progressing the way you would've liked,
perhaps it's because you've allowed yourself to grow complacent in your
role and responsibilities. A better bet? Show your company you're not
only motivated, but a competent leader, by volunteering to head up a new
project in 2018. It might be something you propose yourself, or an
existing initiative begging to be managed. Either way, if you take that
project and run with it, you'll prove how valuable you are.
2.
Learn to be more assertive
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It's often the case that timid or reserved employees get stuck in a rut. If assertiveness
doesn't come naturally to you, it's time to change your ways. Some
people shy away from standing their ground because they don't want to
come off as pushy, but the more confidence you exude, and the firmer you
are in your decisions, the more people will start to take you
seriously.
How do you go from shy to assertive overnight? You
don't -- but you can build up to it over time. For one thing, kick the
habit of apologizing for disagreeing with others. As long as you're
respectful, that's not something to be sorry about. Furthermore, stop
qualifying your statements in meetings or team discussions. Rather than
say "I don't know if this will work, but...," try "Here's what I think
we should do." You'd be amazed at how a few changes in the way you speak
and interact work wonders for your reputation.
3.
Expand your business network
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If your career seems to have
gotten off course, one of the best things you can do for yourself in the
coming year is establish a solid business network.
Contrary to what some might believe, your goal in networking shouldn't
be to amass the longest list of contacts. Rather, focus your efforts on
finding the right contacts and building strong relationships that can
help your career.
You might, for example, ask a manager on another
team to help you learn about a different area of the business you're
interested in. Or, you might join a professional association and meet
key contacts through conferences and events. Knowing the right people
will open the door to new opportunities, which will help you revive your
career more quickly than you'd think.
4.
Learn some new skills
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No matter your line of work, there's no such thing as having too many
skills. If your career needs a boost, work on expanding your knowledge
set next year so that you not only increase your job-related options,
but become the sort of worker your employer comes to rely on. This could
mean taking a course, getting certified in your field, or shadowing other people in your company to learn from them. Or, it could mean beefing up some universal job skills, like time management and communication.
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5.
Set a measurable goal, and hit it
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It's not always possible to precisely measure the value a given employee
brings to the table. But if you're looking to move your career in the
right direction, it pays to establish some goals that are easy to
highlight with numbers. This might mean aiming to save your company
$20,000 this year if you're on the operations team, or working to
increase sales by 10% if you're a marketing manager. Though not every
workplace contribution has a number attached to it, accumulating data
points in your favor will work wonders for your career.
6.
Work with a career counselor
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Many people scoff at the idea of hiring a career counselor.
After all, why pay a professional to help you find a new job or improve
at your current one when you can enlist the help of friends and
colleagues, or just pledge to work on things yourself?
The benefit
of career counselors, though, is that they're trained to help you
understand the things that hold you back at work, and the things that
make you tick. You might, for example, keep working tirelessly to bust
out of a dead-end job, only to realize that you're in the wrong
profession entirely. Or, you might think you're incapable of moving up
at your company, only to learn that a few key changes will likely
improve your odds. Though not all career counselors are created equal,
there are many who are quite good at what they do, so if you're stuck in
a bad spot career-wise, consider giving one a shot.
The start of a
new year is a great time to reassess your career and work to improve
it. Follow these tips, and with any luck, 2018 will be your most
successful one yet.
The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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