Have you ever been in a job where you wanted to move on but couldn't seem to make any progress? If you find yourself in this situation, there's always someone who will say, "you need to get the lesson where you are before you can move on"... with no additional insight. I can't tell you that I know what "the lesson" is specifically, but what I can say for sure is, today is about living your best life now, and anything less is a waste of time.
If you are going to live your best life now, then you have to learn quickly how to leverage the things you are in control of. Instead of feeling stuck, why not take ownership of the situation and create the lesson yourself? It's all about your perspective and your approach. Let me explain.
Moving into the job you desire can take months, sometime years, depending on what you want to do. However, don't ponder on the time it will take, but instead think about the journey you're on and the value you can create for yourself while you are moving towards your destination. If you consider your current job as "just a job", or a way to make ends meet, this is the wrong perspective. You are missing out on simple tasks that have high impact and can propel you towards your goal sooner (I'll tell you how, keep reading).
Being focused and consistent, regardless of how small the task is, will allow you to take advantage of opportunities when they appear. For every job obtained, you will utilize the knowledge and skills you develop throughout your career, and probably in ways you won't expect. Your experiences, whether good or bad, becomes information which supports learning & development, decision-making, character-building, and ultimately the wisdom you will draw on for the rest of your life.
YOUR CHALLENGE:
Find areas for development in your current role that will aid your career, then take the opportunity to hone these skills.
For example, if you are in a customer service role, understand what foundational skills embody exceptional customer service, develop it, and then build on it. Whether your clients are external or internal, any company will capitalize on your ability to effectively engage with people. Even more, great customer service is a skill you can leverage for your entire career!
1) Subscribe to podcasts for the industry or career focus.
2) Research the role you are interested in by investigating various aspects like salary, trends, and career trajectory.
3) Follow companies where you want to work and learn about their culture.
4) Find a job description with responsibilities that resonate with what you want in your next role.
5) Make a list of the required and desired skills to find your skill gaps.
6) Determine how you can add missing skills to your resume (online learning, certification course, volunteer work, freelance project, etc).
7) Join a meet up group or community of professionals for your targeted role.
8) Conduct informational interviews.
9) Attend conferences to network with professionals in the industry.
AND MOST IMPORTANT:
10) Always showcase your strengths to gain new opportunities.
"Success" does not have to be a status that occurs in the distant future. You create your destiny one day at a time, but you have to be positive, resourceful, determined, and consistent if you want to have a feeling of success today. Develop a strategy to "create the lesson" in any job you hold, and you will develop skills and relationships wherever you go, ultimately benefiting your career.
