Career Assessment

Content : just got some new responsibilities, a promotion or a new job

Well done, this is one of those areas in life that very few of us, it would seem, are ever able to reach – so enjoy.  Take a moment to yourself and enjoy it all and focus on your own development, take a time out with your boss to discuss your career goals.

Potential risks :

• The new job you’ve just started does not match up with the description that you understood.
• This is when you must clarify your responsibilities and set inspiring career goals for yourself.  Learn from others in your team, after all, you don’t know it all, so take the time to learn from the styles, skills and experience of others.
• The key goals of the organisation may be different from your personal goals.
• Take time to learn where the organisation is going and how it will get there, also compare this with your personal goals – should they not match, take time to assess what you will need to do to start to attain your own goals either within, or outwith your current role.

Potential action :

• Get a mentor.  Potentially within the organisation find a mentor for yourself, someone who’s ‘been there and done that’, someone who you can learn from and model their success (in a fraction of the time it took them!!!)
• What happened in your section before you arrived?  What is the recent history? What errors have been made? Are there any potential delicate areas you should avoid? Don’t burn any bridges?
• If possible, have a presence at the latest trade shows and conferences.  This is your opportunity to move ahead of the pack, and gain massive credibility in your field.  Let your organisation see that you are up to date with all the latest industry trends.
• Assess yourself.  How far have you come in the organisation – the time is now to re-assess your key goals and objectives