Did you ever notice: It seems like there are some people out there who have it all together when it comes to managing their careers? They have vision, passion, drive, and make all the right moves to get ahead. So are they just plain lucky? Or do they have some insider information when it comes to career advancement?
As leading recruiters in Kansas City, Morgan Hunter knows it’s the latter. Sometimes, people do get lucky breaks. But consistently successful careers are the result of factors far beyond good fortune.
Here’s a look at a few you can put to use in your own career:
#1. Always Be Managing
Don’t wait until you’re ready to find a new job to take control of your career. Your career is one of your biggest assets and you should always be managing it, even when you are satisfied with your current position.
That means having a vision for the future of your career, setting realistic goals, measuring your progress on a regular basis, and making an effort to continually sharpen your skills and learn new ones.
#2. Make Networking a Habit
Networking isn’t something you should do once a week or month. You should be looking at every conversation as an opportunity to get to know someone else and expand your own horizons – whether you’re at a social event, or a business one.
Keep in mind too: When you are ready to make a career move, the more quality connections you have, the easier it will be to find out about job leads.
#3. Get a Coach
Mentors and coaches can help guide you on your path to career success. They have the past experience and wisdom in place to tell you about mistakes made and lessons learned.
There are plenty of ways to find coaches and mentors, whether you want to hire a formal one, reach out to your alumni network and inquire about mentoring programs, or look in-house at your own company for someone to serve as an informal coach.
#4. Live a Balanced Life
If you’re ambitious and want to go places, it’s easy to let your career take over your whole life. But if all you do is work, you’re going to eventually burn out, which will in fact harm your career in the long run.
In addition, it’s through living a diverse lifestyle – complete with hobbies, volunteerism, family time, and other activities – that some of your greatest work inspiration will come. So don’t ignore or put aside opportunities for down time, fun, and pursuits outside of work.
#5. Focus on the Fundamentals
It’s easy to want to be the star performer. But don’t lose sight of what really matters – honesty, integrity, keeping your word, a strong work ethic, and striving for excellence everyday. These are the factors that will have a long-lasting and positive impact on your career; not one career win or positive performance review.
While there is no secret weapon to having a successful career, if you start by following the steps above, then you’ll be well on your way to taking control of your career – and achieving your dreams.
Ready to make a switch in your career and pursue another job opportunity? Call Morgan Hunter. As leading recruiters in Kansas City, we’ve helped thousands of job seekers find great opportunities…and we can help you too by giving you access to the information, tips, advice and connections you need to land your next job.
Contact us today if you’re ready to learn more.