Take Control of Your Career Journey: Proven strategies for success
Career Development - 5 minute read
High-level summary:
What you should think about as you start your professional journey
What you can do to advance in your career and take charge of your professional development
MY STORY
When we think of what we wanted to be in life, we think back on our childhood dreams to be a fire fighter, professional soccer player, or in my case, the president. As kids we had no idea what we should be doing to actually make it happen. We didn’t know how to backwards plan or strategize a game plan to set us up for success. Reality is, we aren’t kids anymore. We have to take control of our lives to achieve what we want to achieve.
As a young adult now, the best thing to do is reflect on what you want out of your career. It’s okay if things change along the way too. I thought I wanted to pursue a career in politics, but when I got an opportunity to work for a Congressman, I realized that wasn’t the case anymore. My skills were not aligned with the job. My focus had to shift on what my ideal job position looked and felt like. I had to really take a step back and think about what was important to me. I knew that I wanted to give back to my community, I knew I wanted to be able to socialize in my role, and I knew that I wanted to have the freedom to lead. So I started looking there and kept developing my skills to bring value and be the best that I could be.
STEPS YOU CAN TAKE
After you’ve had time to reflect on what you want out of your career and what your ideal job position would be, start creating a plan to get there.
Research that position and find job listings that describe the responsibilities that come with it
Find out what skills you need to have to be considered
Go on LinkedIn and find people that are already doing what you want to do and identify the skills they developed over the course of their career to get there
Now focus your efforts on building that skill set in yourself to prepare yourself for success
After you’ve done all of that, you should feel confident in yourself to apply for jobs that you’ve aligned your experiences with. This is where the true beginning is on your path to generational wealth.
The thing is, we can never stop learning. If we tell ourselves that after college, I never want to go through a course or take a test again, we are only letting ourselves down. Until we’re old and wrinkly, in order to be successful, we need to have a student mindset and be open to learning opportunities.
STUDY THE GAME!
Things get serious when you start seeking additional education like certifications in your field or mentors to help you further develop a certain skill. I know that the traditional education system isn’t for everyone. Lucky for us, once we are done with that system, we create our own learning experiences.
Learning styles differ for everyone. Some people prefer to learn with visuals, or through a podcast, or even through reading. No matter what style you favor, you have to engage and push yourself to grow. When you commit yourself to being a lifelong learner, your perspective on everything changes. You effectively turn yourself into the greatest asset you have.
Easiest path forward is to find a mentor that you can relate to and has your interests in mind. Not only will your career take off, but you will also make more money, receive more opportunities, and have doors open that you never could’ve imagined.
Buena Suerte!
