Listen, we’ve all been there. We aren’t being challenged in our current role. We know we need to look for the next opportunity, but aren’t sure or confident as to the next step. Here are some tips to get you started.
Always consider internal opportunities.
This is the easiest place to start. You already work for the company. You know the people and different roles available….or do you? If you work for a large company, chances are you don’t know everything that is available.
- Use LinkedIn to connect with people within your company. If you meet someone in a meeting, send them a LI request when you get back to your desk.
- Check out positions that are posted internally. See what openings your company has and find out more about them.
- Talk to your management team. This gives you an opportunity to let them know your intentions of moving up and seek their guidance on the next steps. Chances are they will recommend things you can work on to get to the next step.
- Seek out mentorships and/or sponsorship. Work with someone internally that can guide you through the company and offer exposure to new areas.
- Be known. Don’t stay heads down working all the time, get up and get to know other people. Keep your pulse on what’s happening within your organization.
- Do the work. None of this matters if you are not doing the work. Managers don’t want to hand off problems or low-performing employees. Be known as the person who gets the work done and asks for new projects and opportunities.
External opportunities.
If you’ve exhausted all your avenues for an internal move, then it’s time to look outside your current company. All the previous tips still apply, but we have a few additional tips:
- Volunteer. Find your passion project and volunteer – get to know (network) with people that are serving alongside you. In our experience, people who are well-connected volunteer. Here’s your chance to find out about their job and company.
- Join industry organizations/associations. Hello, this is a no-brainer. Is there an association that is focused solely on your industry? Join it. Take a leadership role within it. Join the board. Companies post positions within associations. You will be spending time and networking with people in your industry and it’s an easy way to find out career paths.
- Job boards. Spend time researching roles and companies all from the comfort of your own home. The goal is not always to fill out applications, but often to do research on companies, desired skills they are seeking, and job titles within the marketplace.
- 3rd party recruiters/headhunters. If you are in a specialized field, don’t discount enlisting the help of a recruiter who knows about jobs. It is literally their job to find candidates for their clients. Connect with them and find out what skill sets are highly sought after in the market. Work on obtaining those skills if possible. Recruiters really are a wealth of knowledge. Be prepared before you call so that you can maximize the conversation.
Moving up in your career may seem daunting, but it can be very exciting. Focus on the positives and plan in advance in order to build your confidence. If you are overwhelmed by the next steps in career advancement, Skills Lab coaches can help you build a road map. Our coaches can work with you to help figure out where to begin your journey.
