The beginning of the year is always a good time to take stock of your career. Instead of spending time writing a list of resolutions, how about spending some time reflecting on what happened in your career this past year?
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
What are you most proud of that you did in 2023?
How did you add value to the organization where you work?
Which skills and competencies did you acquire?
How satisfied are you with your career up to this point?
What would you like to do differently?
Your answers will prompt you to:
Describe your contributions as achievements and refer to them for performance reviews and prospective clients. Keep them easily accessible.
Highlight what you do best because knowing how you add value is an important professional differentiator. How you added value in the past attests to how you can do it again in the future.
Define your skills and competencies as part of your value proposition. Technological tools, languages, public speaking, and change management facilitation are some examples of skills.
Assess whether to consider a career change within the organization where you work, another organization, or an entirely different field. Think if you look forward to your workday, would rather do something else, or will postpone career changes because of temporary constraints.
Take action to own your career and your development moving forward. Write specific goals to reinforce your strengths and to prepare for your next step.
What is your next step?
The amount of career advice available is overwhelming and you may find contradictions, inconsistencies, and inaccuracies. Therefore, you need to filter that content before you convert it into useful information.
A professional career coach can help you in several ways, including:
Give you criteria to filter career advice content based on the industry’s best practices.
Ask additional questions to gain more insights about yourself and your career.
Provide objective and constructive feedback as you find your answers.
Assist you in defining a strategy with a realistic timeframe and specific next steps within your circumstances.
Become your accountability partner to discuss your progress openly and confidentially.
Look to an REA’s career coach as they specialize in assisting professionals to find answers to these questions and others. You don’t need to navigate your next steps alone they are here to help.
Check out REA Flex Coaching services to help you get a jump start on your career refresh!