What’s holding you back from your next career step?

How often have you thought about what you could be doing in your career?

How many times have you congratulated others on successfully moving to another role?

You know nothing will change without you making the first step.

What is the first step?

Think about your current job. Make a list of your current achievements. Maybe you’ve increased turnover in your patch significantly, achieved all your KPIs easily or perhaps you’ve taken on leadership of the team and feeling good about it. I’m sure there are many others you can think of.

Second step?

Can you see these new skills being supported and enhanced in your current job? If so, then make time to speak to someone up the ladder about formalising this. Have these skills and others built into your KPIs. Set yourself targets that will challenge you in your skill growth.

If this isn’t supported in your current workplace? If mentoring and career development isn’t part of the culture in your current workplace?

Then, third step?

Has to be to look elsewhere. Now you can begin to broaden your horizon and set some goals. Quite literally, consider your next options as a clean slate within your industry. Where would you like to be working for the next 2 – 5 years. Your family situation is a consideration. However, in the professional world anything is possible. We place people in all continents of the world. In the Oil & Gas market the average time committed to each new job is about 2 to 5 years.

Next step?

Once you’ve broadly identified your goals, implementation strategies are next in line. What do you need to do now to achieve your goals? First and foremost, get your CV in order. Make it represent you professionally and honestly. I can’t emphasise the importance of your CV enough. Your CV speaks for you when you can’t speak for yourself. There is a plethora of information online for CV development. See some of our other blog items for information.

Next, web search your industry. What are your competitors  advertising as vacancies? What skills are required at the next step up? Get on the phone and talk to companies with advertised vacancies. Many will happily talk through what they are looking for. If not check out the online Job Profiles.

Do a search for industry related recruiters or search companies. They can provide the necessary legs for your CV. Industry related recruiters will give feedback about your CV as it is in their interest also for it to accurately reflect your skills and experience. They will also have jobs that aren’t advertised in the industry yet. Maybe the vacancy has just come in or the client has requested the vacancy not to be advertised.

Now, the real excitement begins!

Job Interviews! Web search all information to support attending interviews. You won’t be short of information. A good recruitment company will also support you through this process with interview coaching. We spend time with most candidates, usually about two or three coaching sessions. We know what the interview process is about, what is important, some sample questions etc etc. This is a whole new discussion.

See some of our other blogs on this subject here.

This really is only the beginning of your new journey. The important thing is to begin your journey. Just make a start, let the process begin!

Now over to you: give me feedback – what is holding you back

Image source:123rf.com

 

CV Writing, Job Search