Over the years I have noticed that many people start out with high career expectations. Some go on to meet those expectations while others struggle. While there are many things that contribute to career success, some are more key than others.
Desire
This is one area that is often overlooked when it comes to career. For me it is vitally important because unless you have the basic hunger it is all too easy to throw in the towel at the first sign of setback.
Clarity
Yes it is important to have a clear goal for your career. At the same time you need clarity on a whole lot of things. What types of industry that you want to work in. The types of role that you want to pursue. The sacrifices that you are willing and are not willing to make.
The Necessary Qualifications
Sometimes people become qualification and certification collectors. While they might not do you any harm, the reality is that there are a few qualifications that are in the essential or must have group. Try to avoid collecting certificates for the sake of it.
The Right Experience
There is in my view no substitute for real life experience on real life projects that have an impact or otherwise on organisational results. The truth is every new thing you tackle adds something else to your toolbox.
The Right Support Team
Yes you need to have a great team working alongside you and supporting you at work. However your support team is much broader and includes family, friends and spouses.
The Right Decisions
You have to be strategic about the decisions you make. It can be tempting to take decisions that look great short term but can be hugely detrimental long term.
The Bottom Line: Careers are for the long term and achieving success takes time. At the same time it is vital that you focus on some of the key contributors to success.
Duncan Brodie helps accountants and other professionals achieve more career success. He invites you to sign up for his free audio masterclass
Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.