Given what has happened in 2020 and the outcomes for many from this, it’s not surprising to be thinking about setting career development as your new year’s resolution.
It is a common resolution to make. The following data was shared in an article that appeared in the Independent in early 2020. It is based on a study by Investors in People who surveyed 12,000 people.
On top of these statistics, there are people who feel undervalued or that they are not working in the job they would like to. There are also people who are looking to return to work, either following a break to bring up children or who have lost their jobs due to Covid-19. Covid-19 has led many people to question what they want in life.
This blog is for you if you are one of these people. It shares a thought process to help you effectively set and pursue a career development resolution in 2021.
Your current position
Your past doesn’t have to impact your future. However, thinking about your past and present situations can be a good starting point to help you decide what you want.
Looking back at your work history, consider the following questions.
- What were your favourite parts of each job?
- What were your least favourite parts of each job?
- What do you miss doing that you used to do?
- Do you use your skills and qualifications in your current job?
- What sort of work environment do you like?
- What parts of other people’s jobs do you wish you had in your job?
- Does your current job excite you? If not, why not?
- Do you feel fresh in your role or do you need new challenges?
- Does your job give you space to develop?
- Are you happy with your work life balance?
Your future dream career
Maybe it’s time to get a new job. This could be starting afresh in a new company, but it could also mean changing your role in your existing company.
Maybe you don’t need to change your role at all. Could you take on new responsibilities or learn new skills in your existing role? Or maybe you are happy to stay in your current role while developing new skills for a career change?
Before you start thinking about what your career development resolution might be, let’s focus on how you will feel when you achieve your resolution. Will this development make you feel more valued? Will it give you a better work life balance? Will it leave you feeling more confident to contribute? Will you have a better work life balance? Will you feel happier and more fulfilled in your new role?
Now think about the other things you will be able to do when you make your career dream come true? Will you be more confident in other parts of life? Will you get paid more? Will you have a better work life balance enabling you to do other things you want to do?
Hold that feeling.
Look at the details
Holding that feeling your career development will give you, think about what career development resolution you might want to set. These questions will help.
- Do you want a new environment, or would you rather focus on personal development?
- Do you have time to pursue a new qualification?
- Are there any qualifications that you started and didn’t finish?
- Are there any qualifications you could pursue to set yourself up for the next step or a change of career?
- Do you want to work for yourself or for others?
- Is there a next step in your career that you want to take?
- Do you want to change industry?
- Focusing on the skills and not the tasks, what skills do you have that you could use in a new role?
- What environment do you want to work in?
Some people will want to focus on development, others on a new role. Some people will want to make it a two-stage affair, focusing first on development to enable the new role. Think about what steps you will need to take.
If you are thinking of starting your own business, you will be pleased to learn that we will be releasing a series of articles in 2021 to help you understand the process.
Getting a dream job requires commitment
It can be hard work getting a new role. If you need to undertake training, that can require investment of both your time and money. Interviews can be draining. It can take time before the dream role opens up.
Stepping into a new role can be rewarding, but also tiring. You have new skills to learn, new environments to familiarise yourself with, new company cultures to understand and you have to step outside your comfort zone.
But go back to that happy feeling your career development will give you and think of the things your career development will enable you to do. If this feeling is more than the cost of getting the role, then a career development resolution could be just what you need.
It’s time to set your career development resolution. And be sure you make it ‘SMART’.
Follow Stag Protect, on Facebook or LinkedIn, to read our latest blogs.
