Kerry McFarlane talks to us about how we can leverage progression within our current role and ensure we are staying on track with our personal career goals.
In today’s workforce, individuals are more focused than ever on progression, with the expectation that they would like to see themselves move forward within the first 2 years in an organisation. Employers aim to motivate their best people while being realistic about the fact that most roles don’t have a fast-track progression plan.
How do we continually develop and meet our personal career goals when there isn’t a natural progression that meets our timelines? There are lots of steps you can take to enhance your skills and experience, allowing you to optimise your time and seize any opportunities.
Set clear timelines and hold regular feedback sessions:
Establish clear short, medium, and long-term goals from the moment you interview for a new role. These goals should be entirely personal to you and something you are comfortable with and willing to work towards. Share them with your prospective employer and ask for their feedback and thoughts on your timelines to gauge alignment. Keep track of these goals, regularly review them, and ask your line manager for feedback. Take feedback on board and keep yourself on track.
Take initiative:
Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you. Actively seek out projects and tasks that align with your career goals. Volunteer for cross-functional work and special assignments. Identify areas where you can add value. Seek out training opportunities that will make you more visible within the company.
Build Relationships:
Cultivate strong relationships with colleagues and managers across the organisation. Networking within the business can open doors for you if and when the opportunity to progress arises. Remember that most people in the organisation might not be aware of your previous experience, skills, aspirations, or commitment, so it’s up to you to put yourself in centre stage.
Invest in your continuous learning:
Demonstrating a commitment to learning will not only enhance your skills but also position you as a valuable asset to the company. Organisations want to retain their best staff, and actively improving your skills is a clear sign that development is on your mind. There are plenty of free courses available to help you polish up your skills. Investing your own time and money in learning is often required. There may also be internal opportunities to learn from peers.
If you’re currently in a role and reading this, thinking you haven’t yet taken these steps and feel it’s too late, now is the time to start. Reflect on your goals, the role you’re doing now, gather your thoughts, and take them to your manager. Have an honest conversation about where you see yourself and ask for their feedback. Set your stall out today.
For more information or insights into the recruitment landscape, if you’re looking for a new role or your next hire, we are here to help! We recruit the best in house talent for our clients across all industry sectors, please feel free to reach out to Kerry McFarlane on 07780138964 or email kerry.mcfarlane@iconicresourcing.com