It can be hard to think about your career path when you are already making an impact in your current role. You probably haven’t stopped to ask yourself what your next move will be because you are so focused on being successful at the job you have now.
However, many professionals change jobs frequently, sometimes only spending two or three years in one role before moving onto another. Although you are content in your position today, you should always spend some of your effort in managing your career for the future so that you are ready for any changes when they come.
These four actions will help you to drive your career further. You might not find yourself ready to move into a new position anytime soon, but doing these four things will ensure that when the time comes, you will be ready to make a successful transition into new roles in your career.
1. Craft a healthy network
A healthy network is about more than a list of contacts you can call for advice. It is about being someone that others feel they can reach out to with questions. Spend some effort crafting a network of current and former colleagues and mentors. Stay in contact with emails and phone calls. Make introductions between your connections. Invite contacts out for breakfast meetings or lunches. Building a solid network can be beneficial for you as well as the people in your network so don’t neglect it.
2. Build your professional brand
Creating a personal brand is about broadcasting your value. This is not something that you should only be concerned with when you are actively seeking employment. One of the best ways to do that is to have a stellar LinkedIn profile. Make sure that all of the fields are filled in and utilize relevant keywords. Make sure you are reflecting the objectives and values of your current organization. Stay active on your profile with updates, sharing content, and writing blog posts.
3. Take a regular look at what you’ve accomplished
What challenges have you faced in your current role and how did you work to overcome them? Keep track of the things you have achieved in your role and how they impacted the company. Having these things on paper can prove to be valuable at any time throughout your career, like when you want to put in for a raise or a promotion, or when you are ready to start reaching out to new potential employers.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask what’s next
While you can’t predict the future, you should always be ready to question it. If your company has to make cuts tomorrow, what is your first step? What actions will you take? What will you do if you need a boost in salary? What companies offer the best prospects for you?
This also relates to what is going on in your industry. What are the coming trends? What are clients going to need in the future? What direction is the company going next year or next quarter? Always keep an eye to the future so that you are ready to answer any questions that arise and handle any situations that get thrown at you.
You may not be ready to make a change when it comes to your career. That does not mean you should not be ready to meet any changes that do come. Use these tips to manage your career and you will be ready to move forward and maintain some control over your career path.