Archive for the ‘How To Successfully Progress Your Career’ Category

A question people sometimes ask and can be difficult to answer is how long should I stay in a job if I want to have a successful career.

While some will tell you that it is essential that you change jobs every two years if you want to get to the more senior levels, the reality is that there is no definitive answer.  When I reflect in my 25 years in accountancy and consultancy, some of the things that influenced my job change timing choices included:

• Whether I was continuing to grow and develop in my current role.

• Whether I was adding to my skills, attributes and experience.

• The people I was working with and whether they were encouraging and supporting my progression.

• What was going on in the organisation I was working in.  Sometimes there were special short to medium term projects that made it really worthwhile staying around.

So back to the question of how long to stay in a job.  In my experience a change every 24-36 months worked well for me.  It provided sufficient time to get some solid experience and at the same time stopped me getting bored.

I personally found that a huge part of your impact came in 6 to 18 month period.  If you think about it the first 3 months are often about finding your feet.  By the 6th month you know where you can really make a difference and can demonstrate some rapid progress and results.

However, we are all individuals and have different drivers and the key is to find what works best for you.

So what has been your experience?

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps professional people achieve more career success.  He invites you to check out his free audio masterclass at http://www.goalsandachievements.co.uk/careers-main.html

Many people want to get on as far as they can in their career.  Some achieve what they want while others find it more of a struggle and some will without doubt get stuck.

So what are some of the common career barriers and what should you do about them?

Career Barrier 1: Qualifications

Whether it is fair or not there are many professions where it is pretty much impossible to go beyond a certain level unless you get qualified and gain membership of the professional body.

Solution: Either sign up to get the qualification or make a real commitment to get qualified if you have already started but are being sporadic in your studies.

Career Barrier 2: Mobility

As you get older and perhaps have family mobility or lack of it can sometimes stop you from getting access to the opportunities you would like.

Solution: Seriously consider relocating or perhaps working away from home during the week for a defined period of time to get the experience you need.

Career Barrier 3: Experience

Perhaps you are missing on some vital experience to get to the next level.

Solution: Find out precisely the experience you need and seek out opportunities to gain it.  This might be through a secondment, covering for some else or perhaps doing something voluntary outside of work to gain the experience.

Career Barrier 4: Lack of Insight

It staggers me just how few people really know themselves and their strengths.  This makes it really difficult to effectively market what you have to offer.

Solution: Take one or several of the online assessments or alternatively work with a career coach or mentor to help you unlock your hidden talents.

Career Barrier 5: Job Interview Performance

I never cease to be amazed just how poorly people perform in job interviews despite the fact that they are still among the most common ways of recruiting people.

Solution: Make sure you are making sufficient time to prepare for interviews and do some mock interviews before the real thing.  The feedback you get will greatly improve your performance.

The Bottom Line: Achieving success in your career requires commitment and effort.  The question is are you willing to put in the work to get the results you desire?

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps professionals to achieve more success in their career and get the rewards and recognition they deserve.  He invites you to check out his free audio masterclass at http://www.goalsandachievements.co.uk/careers-main.html

Many people have a real desire to be successful in their career.  This might be because they crave security, really want to leave a legacy or just fulfil their potential.

When the economy is a little more challenging, it can seem like it is impossible to move forward in your career.  In reality you can move forward in your career whatever the external conditions.  Here’s how.

Focus on Professional and Personal Development

There are always new things to learn or new challenges to face.  Having a real focus on your continuing professional and personal development can really make a difference.  These days there are so many options open to you like low cost digital courses to full day or even full year programmes.

Seek Opportunities To Take On New Projects To Get Extra Experience

Every organisation needs people to lead or be part of organisational projects.  Some might be change related or related to a new acquisition or new service or product.  Often external consultants are brought in and while they can offer value, you can save money for the organisation while broadening your experience.

Get Strategic On Job Search

When you have fewer roles and more people chasing them you have to be selective and strategic.  There is no point wasting valuable time and energy on going for roles that you are highly unlikely to get.

Give Your CV/Resume A Makeover

Most CV’s/Resume’s were written a while ago.  Spend a few hours going through your personal marketing materials and make sure they are selling you and your achievements.

Network More

There is a saying that goes along the lines of it’s not what you know but who you know that matters.  A lot of people find out about a role through the grapevine or through their online and offline networks.  If you are not going along to professional association networking events or being active on LinkedIn Groups you are missing opportunities to build relationships.

The Bottom Line:  You cannot control external factors but you can control how you position yourself for success in your career.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps professionals achieve more career success.  Check out his free audio masterclass at http://www.goalsandachievements.co.uk/careers-main.html

We spend more time during our life working than just about any other activity.  Many professional people are keen to get to get on in their career but struggle to make the progress they would like.

So what are 7 things you could do to progress your career straight away?

Make It A Priority

Anyone can talk about wanting more success in their career but like anything worth having it requires an investment of time and energy.  If career progress matters to you make it a priority.

Get Clarity

Before you can embark on any kind of career progress you need to get clear about what you want in both the long, medium and short term.  The clearer you are the easier it is going to be to make progress quicker.

Speak To Your Boss

People often wrongly assume that the only way to progress your career is to move on to a new job.  Sometimes you can get a secondment or involved in a project to broaden your experience.  On the other hand you will never get this unless you are willing to ask.

Do Your Own Self Assessment

Sit down and do an honest assessment of what you do really well and what are your weaker areas.  Chances are your strengths will far outweigh your weaknesses.

Get Some Feedback

Others can often see qualities and attributes we don’t see ourselves. Asking a group of people for feedback is the fastest way to get these insights.

Create a CV or Resume That Markets You Well

At the end of the day your CV or Resume is your personal marketing document.  How good a job is your document doing in effectively marketing you?

Use All The Job Search Options

Up until a few years ago the options around job search were quite limited.  These days there are so many options at your disposal yet many people fail to utilise them.

Take A Long Term View

A career is more of a marathon and less like a sprint.  Make decisions with the long term in mind.  Remember too that the more senior you are the longer it is going to take to find the right opportunities as there are fewer opportunities around.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps professional people to climb the career ladder and achieve the career success and rewards they desire.  He invites you to sign up for his free audio masterclass at http://www.goalsandachievements.co.uk/careers-main.html

Sometimes as we climb the careeer ladder we get so involved in work that we forget about everything else.

In this short video I am sharing 10 tips designed to help you to maintain some balance as you progress your career.

If you have additional tips of your own, please add a comment.

And if you enjoyed the presentation I invite you to sign up for my free audio masterclass

Many professional people start off their career with high hopes and big aspirations. Perhaps they sail through their professional exams and look forward to a highly successful career. For some, things shape up as expected but many others get stuck in a rut and never fulfil their real potential.

So what are 8 secrets to accelerating your career and getting the results that you know you can?

Secret 1: Know Yourself

Before you can move anywhere it is vital to know where you are starting from. In my experience that involves investing some serious time in assessing what you excel at, what needs developing and what really fires you up, to name just a few.

Secret 2: Have A Career Strategy

Maybe the idea of a career strategy sounds grand, complex and really difficult to do. Yet it does not have to be any of these things. At its most basic level it is about getting clear about where you want to get to and then having a plan or route map to get there.

Secret 3: Start Becoming A Learning Machine

There is a saying that goes along the lines of ‘what got you here won’t get you there’. The essence of this statement is that you need to keep growing and developing. The more you learn, the more you can contribute and the more you can contribute the more likely it is that you stand out from the crowd.

Secret 4: Become An Expert Listener

Listening is often lost under the umbrella of communication. Yet in truth, if you become an expert listener you are always on the lookout for that opportunity to get that additional experience, training or whatever else it is that will get you to the next level.

Secret 5: Be Enthusiastic

Getting ahead in your career is not going to be a trouble free ride. There are going to be bumps and obstacles along the way. It is how you respond that matters.

Secret 6: Help The Boss And They Will Help You

Your boss wants to be successful just as much as you do. Sometimes people wrongly believe that trying to outsmart the boss is the best way forward. However, remember when your boss moves up he or she is going to be looking for their trusted people to work alongside them. Helping the boss succeed can actually be a huge win-win.

Secret 7: Become A Great Team Player

The more senior you become, the more important it is to become a great team player. Develop a habit of collaborating rather than competing. Work with and not against others.

Secret 8: Be Responsive

Don’t wait to be asked; be proactive and make things happen. Make sure that you deliver on the promises you make.

The Bottom Line: Moving forward in your career does take time but some simple changes can often yield big results.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps professional people to realise their true potential and maximise their earning. You can sign up for his free audio masterclass here www.goalsandachievements.co.uk

Some people are happy and content at the level they are at and have no aspirations to go further. On the other hand there are many who have a real desire to go further but are struggling to move forward. So why is this? Here are 10 reasons why you might be struggling.

Reason 1: You Don’t Really Want It Enough

Everyone wants the rewards that go with climbing the career ladder. At the same time, many don’t want to put in place the work to make it happen. Wishing is not enough; you have to have real desire.

Reason 2: You Don’t Invest The Time

If you were going to make a major purchase, I am pretty sure like most of us you would put in the time and energy to do your research before you bought. Deciding to hire someone is a major buying decision. If you are not willing to put the time in to find the right role, why should you be given a chance?

Reason 3: You Don’t Know Yourself

What I mean by this is that you don’t have at your fingertips real insights into what you do really well and what you need to develop to become even better. The truth is it is not difficult to do and is the way to unlock your hidden gems.

Reason 4: You Underestimate Your Achievements

People often in resumes and CVs fail to include achievements because they feel they are not big enough. If they are relevant, include them.

Reason 5: Your Written Materials Are Passive

When I was working in big organisations, and even today when working with my clients on their written materials, I often come across CVs and Resumes that are simply too passive and don’t grab my attention.

Reason 6: You Don’t Invest In Yourself

If you look at what differentiates successful from the less successful, the chances are that you will notice that those who get the best results invest in themselves. The challenges are just too big these days to make continued professional and personal development optional.

Reason 7: You Don’t Act On Feedback

If you have been interviewed for a role and you were unsuccessful, you can usually get feedback. Many people might go through the motions of getting feedback. Smart people will actively seek it out and act on it.

Reason 8: You Don’t Have A Strategy

A strategy is not something set in stone. Of course it needs to be flexible. At the same time, if you have something written down and actively monitor progress you are more likely to achieve it.

Reason 9: You Make Short Term Decisions

So often I see people lured by money or a quick gain into making choices that are great short term but detrimental to long term success.

Reason 10: You Don’t Bounce Back From Setbacks

We all get rejected from time to time. It’s not the rejection that is the issue, it is how you respond to it that matters. Learn to see setbacks as being part and parcel of being more successful.

The Bottom Line: Climbing the career ladder is a marathon, not a sprint, so make sure you set yourself up for success.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps professional people to realise their professional potential and maximise their earnings. He invites you to sign up for his free audio masterclass at http://goalsandachievements.co.uk/careerladder/

If you are like most people, you probably started on your career path full of hope and enthusiasm. The early signs were positive but then you got stuck. If you are stuck in your career, what can you do to move forward?

Set aside time to take stock

You probably have done lots of things in your career but, if you are like most of us, it is all too easy to lose sight of everything you have done or achieved. Set aside a couple of hours to list all of the things you have done and achieved. You might just surprise yourself at what you uncover.

Ask yourself what’s stopping you

You probably have been applying for, and maybe even been interviewed for, more senior positions but not landing the role at the next level. Think about some of the feedback that you are getting. Is there a common theme or themes emerging? Once you know this, you can take action to do something about it.

Give your CV or résumé a makeover

Take out your CV or résumé and look at it as if you were a recruiter. In the 30 second scan, what does it say about you and is it saying what you want it to? In other words, is it selling what you have to offer?

Hire A Coach or Mentor

It may not be the first thing that comes into your head but often even a short period with a coach or mentor can accelerate your move forward. The one to one personal support can make the difference.

At the end of the day, there could be many things that are keeping you stuck. The trick is to identify these and take action to do something to address them.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps professionals to achieve success, realize their professional potential and maximise their earnings. You can sign up for his free audio masterclass here

Most people see their career as important yet many get stuck. So what steps can you take immediately to accelerate your progress?

1. Take some time to self assess what you do well and what needs developing.
2. Get some feedback from others who you have worked with.
3. Make a file of your key career achievements.
4. Draw up a 90 day fast track personal development plan where you do one thing, no matter how small, each day to build your skills, knowledge or competency.
5. Stop making money your motivation for progressing your career. If you deliver, money will follow.
6. Step up and volunteer for special projects.

The truth is doing some simple things can make a huge difference. So when will you get started?

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps accountants and health professionals to achieve success, realize their professional potential and maximise their earnings.  If you are ready to climb the career ladder, sign up for his free audio masterclass here

Block 1
• Clinging on to the past and refusing to move forward.

Block 2

• Treating people differently and having favourites.

Block 3

• Not listening to the feedback that you are consistently getting.

Block 4

• Not investing in your personal development and growth.

Block 5

• Not being honest with yourself.

What else would you add to the list of 5?

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps accountants and health professionals to achieve success and realize their professional potential through being highly effective leaders and managers. For more information and to sign up for his free audio e-course click here