The seasons of your career

 

If you are in the depths of winter in Europe or the height of summer in Australia, no doubt you are facing the new year with plans for a successful 2019. Happy new year to all, and hoping the year goes well.  As we start the new year afresh, our work/life/career intentions are admirable, but often fall short of our expectations, and we are sometimes disappointed that we did not achieve all our goals by the end of the year.

Our reflection at the end of 2018, was on all the areas of our life and what we had learnt over the year –

1.       Career 2.       Personal 3.       Sport and Leisure

4.       Friendship 5.       Health 6.       Family

7.       Community 8.       Financial 9.       Spiritual

Some of you may have taken time to consider these areas of your life over the Christmas and New Year break, as you slowed down from you work, with questions such as –

1. What are the things that I enjoy doing?
2. What am I good at (my skills)?
3. What are my most important values?

These reflections often give rise to new plans for the new year with questions such as –

1. What are the skills I would like to learn and develop in 2019?
2. What are the things I would like to do less of this year?
3. What are the skills that I have that are not utilised?
4. What projects or activities can I undertake to make more of these skills?
5. What are the possible obstacles or barriers that I might have to overcome to be successful?

Have you ever stopped to think about your career and planning your goals according to the seasons? The seasons guide our lives more than we imagine as we plan our other activities around what happens in the environment. Our career could also benefit from the changing seasons.

Breaking down your goals according to the seasons, or in four blocks of 13 weeks that align with the seasons, seems manageable and is a way to achieve positive career goals. A block of 13 weeks can help you achieve at least one thing in this time and if you complete at least one goal in each block, you will have four goals completed for the year.

Four goals to achieve this year include the following –

1. One thing to work on that will stand you in good stead for the year, is to work on your CV. Before 2018 fades into the distance, revisit all your achievements and professional development activities and add them to your CV.
2. Consider who you have as referees, especially if you need to apply for a new position. You never know when you need to move in your career. Be ready!
3. Think about what you will do if you lose your job. Oversee your own destiny and know what you will do if you are suddenly without an income.
4. Identify what new skill you will learn this year. It doesn’t have to be complicated – look up free courses such as EdX, Coursera and Udemy or read a free book from bookbboon.com

If you complete these four goals this year, you will be well on the way to career goal success in 2019.

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”  — Unknown

Dr Janene Piip

Talent consultant and career practitioner

Australia

www.janenepiip.com.au

janenepiip@gmail.com