Your career may be giving you everything you need right now, and if you’re waking up each morning feeling excited about your job and eager to tackle the challenges of the day, then keep doing whatever you’re doing to stay motivated; You’re exactly where you need to be. But if you’re starting to lose your passion for this job, or you’re feeling restless and ready for the next adventure, then it’s time to choose a direction and start taking steps toward a new goal.
But promotion and career advancement don’t always take place automatically. Depending on your profession, you may need to actively seek out the training and skills you need in order to attain the next level, and then you’ll have to prove your readiness to your supervisor in order to move forward. Here’s how to get started.
Arrange a Meeting
Sit down with your supervisor and work together to establish your next set of career goals. Explain where you’d like to take your career during the next year (or five years). Confirm that your company has the capacity and flexibility to take you where you’d like to go. Make sure your manager is on your side and ready to provide you with the resources and support you need to make this transition. If the company simply can’t help you, there’s no position for you to advance into, or your manager withholds support for your plan, start exploring the marketplace and searching for new positions outside this organization.
Determine the Training and Skill Sets You’ll Need for Success
During your meeting, discuss the skill sets you’ll need in order to advance to the next level. Ask your manager to be very direct with you about how you can attain these skills and how you’ll be expected to demonstrate and prove them. Will they be measurable skills that can be easily and objectively tested, like programming languages? Or will they be intangible skills that will be evaluated in a subjective way, like leadership?
Advance Internally or Get Ready to Move On
Now that you know your next steps, it’s time to get moving. Sign up for the training courses you need, or start asking for projects, exposure, and responsibilities that can help you gain the right kinds of experience. Once you believe you’re ready, make your case for a promotion. If you’re turned down, start showcasing your skills and submitting resumes to employers outside of your current company.
For specific, step-by-step guidance as you begin taking your career to the next level, make an appointment with the MA staffing experts at Techneeds. If you are looking for temp agencies in Massachusetts, contact us today.