If you want to position yourself to move into a new job or gain a promotion, you
need to do something that makes the difference between staying where you are and
moving up. No one is going to come along and just promote you or hire you away
into your dream job. You must develop a plan.
Here are some ideas about how to develop a career strategy. If you will invest
just one hour per week in long-term planning and goal setting for your career
development, the investment in yourself will be like money in the bank when you
land that new job or a promotion.
Step 1. Know Thyself. What are your personal limits? What are you willing to do
to move up? Are you mobile? Are you willing to change you geographic location or
move to a different agency? There is nothing wrong with wanting to stay where
you are, but your career strategy will have to be much different than that of
someone who is willing to move or change agencies.
Step 2. Start with a statement of your dream job. Don't worry that you might not
qualify for your dream job right now, that's why you're making a plan. Think
about the characteristics of your dream job rather than a specific job title.
For instance, do you want a job that allows you to use your communications
skills or other special talents? Do you want a job that allows you to use flex
time? Thinking in terms of characteristics of the job rather than its
classification will help you see possibilities other than the ones you already
know about.
Step 3. Expand your picture. What kinds of jobs would have some or all of the
characteristics you'd like? Write them down, even if you aren't qualified for
them right now.
Step 4. Consider the obstacles. What stands in your way? Don't be too quick to
conclude you need an extra degree or a different credential-what you actually
may need are different skills.
Step 5. Make a plan for overcoming each obstacle. You must face the barriers
that stand between where you are now and where you want to go. If you don't have
the right skills, how can you get them? If you don't know the right people, how
can you meet them?
Step 6. Develop a timeline. Once you identify your goals, the obstacles, and how
you'll overcome them, you need to assign a time line to achieve those goals. Ask
yourself, "When do I want to achieve my goal?" Then break your plan down into
phases or steps. What do you need to do first? Is there a step you need to take
before that? Work backward until you identify the very first action you need to
take to reach your goal.
One hour a week doesn't seem like a lot of time, and it isn't. But that's all
you need to focus on at this point. In one hour, you could gather all the
material you need for your resume. In one hour, you could read your or another
agency's website to review new programs and mission statements.
The advantage of spending one hour per week is that it keeps you from feeling
overwhelmed by a long-term project. In just a few sessions, you will be amazed
at how much progress you've made. Setting up and going through this process will
give you a feeling of immense control and personal security. If there's a
set-back in your agency, you don't have to panic: you're already on your way to
something better. If you don't like a particular offer or work situation, you
don't have to let desperation drive your decision: you can continue to develop
yourself. Invest time in yourself: it will make the difference.
