How to Take Control of Your Career in Four Steps

It’s easy to settle in a job that isn’t quite the right fit, but it doesn’t mean you have to stay there forever. You may find yourself doubting whether you’ll find another job, but with a little help from these steps, you can take control of your career. You’ll be on the road to your perfect job soon!

Start With Yourself

KieferPix/Shutterstock: Assess yourself

Take a moment to reflect on yourself, your skillset, experience, and strengths. Is there a specific thing your colleagues come to you for? Which tasks or projects do you excel at, and which ones aren’t your forte? Once you understand your abilities, you can move onto your career ideals. These will combine your values, your “wants”, and your “needs”.

Rather than overwhelming yourself with a list of ideals, split them into three categories: must-haves, negotiable wants, and the added bonuses. Go over the things that are important to your life as well as your career, and organize them accordingly. For example, if you have children, affording school fees is a “must-have”. A “negotiable want” could be a higher salary, and an “added bonus” could be a weekly work-from-home day.

Don’t Focus On a Title

bbg fotografia/Shutterstock: Look beyond just a title

When you start your job search, it’s tempting to look for particular job roles. However, this strategy may narrow your search too much, and you could be excluding the perfect company. Instead, focus on looking for a company that shares your career ideals. Remember that the work environment and values are set by the company, not by the job.

If you’re lucky enough to find the perfect company with the right position available, that’s great! Don’t get disheartened if you aren’t quite ready to apply though. Figure out what you need to make yourself the perfect candidate and set yourself goals to work towards each week. Take the time you need and you’ll set yourself up for success.

Plan It Out

BAZA Production/Shutterstock: Plan it out

Rushing headlong toward your end goal might seem like the right idea to start with, but you’ll soon find yourself grinding to a halt. It’s better to set yourself smaller goals that will build your forward momentum, helping you to reach your main goal. Sure, it might appear to take longer at the beginning, but continuous work towards your goal is preferable to a mad rush that gets nowhere. Plus, the ability to cross a goal off your list comes with an added confidence and motivation boost, so you’re much more likely to keep going! Read more.

The Grass Is Greener Where You Water It

Once you’ve outlined the areas where you need to improve and set yourself small goals to get you to the end goal, it’s time to put the work in. There are many ways you can achieve your small goals, so figure out your strategy and find the tools you need. Expand your network and develop your communication skills through informational interviews, or take a course to expand your skills.

Improving your chances of success doesn’t have to cost you anything either – there’s plenty of free courses online, and you can even start at your current job. Putting in the effort now will benefit you greatly down the line.
Start today!