Does your New Year’s resolutions include a career shift? 

If so, ask yourself these 3 questions…

Before you can start looking ahead you need an accurate picture of where you’ve been. It’s time to take stock of the work you’ve accomplished, how you’ve positioned yourself for growth and what it is you really want to do.  To help you figure out where you want to be, ask yourself…

1. What have I accomplished? Did you lead a successful project? Were you singled out by your superiors for an innovative new idea? Did you get a promotion?  Or did you just show up and go through the motions?  Either way, it’s something you need to reflect on. Your accomplishments will look great on your resume, but if you’re just going through the motions it’s a good sign you should be looking elsewhere for a career that challenges and inspires you. 

2. Were you happy doing your job? Happiness can come in a lot of forms. Your co-workers may make the environment on you enjoy being in. Perhaps your days are filled with challenges you can solve. It could even be that each day is different and you enjoy the randomness of the activities because you’re never bored.  Be aware of what makes each day enjoyable because no matter the work you choose, you want to make sure that component is part of it. On the flip side, if you’re truly unhappy only you can make that change. And you’re in luck, because you have the power to make that happen. 

3. Did you grow your skills? One of the most important things you can do for your career is to always be in a state of learning. Having that willingness to learn knew skills, software, and technique will make you an employee employers value. There’s so many ways you can do this today without breaking the corporate budget. Of course, you can attend conferences, but you can also ask a mentor or  try online learning (many of which are free!). If you love your current job, ask your employer for feedback on areas you can improve or industry trends you need to be aware of. Being willing to grow is one sure way to make sure your employers realizes your a value to the organization. If you’ve decided to find a new career path, keeping up with your skills makes you even more employable somewhere else. And if you’re a seasoned worker – it shows you aren’t out of date and still have value. 

Once you’ve completed your career year in review, if you feel like it’s time to pursue other career options, make sure you are using your current skills and accomplishments in best way possible to position yourself as the best candidate for the job. Through personal career branding, you can get the attention of hiring managers and recruiters so that you’ll get noticed and get hired. If you’re not sure how to position yourself in today’s digital job market and want an experienced career branding coach by your side, check out the Successfully Ever After 30 day program.