Develop and Pursue Your Own Vision of Career Success

Experiencing a rewarding career depends on pursuing your own vision of professional success.

Otherwise, you could be spending your days trying to live up to the expectations of others, or senselessly shifting from one job to the next. Succeeding is a tricky aspiration.

Create a career that enables you to do what you love and achieve balance in your personal and professional life. Start planning today so you can make decisions based on your values and goals.

Career Success:

Using this word people can be referring to different meaning:

• For other people, it’s about founding and managing their own business.

• Some are looking for stretching their skills and pursuing knowledge for its own sake.

• For many, aspiring to generate a social or environmental positive impact.

• For others, success is related to enjoying a more desired lifestyle.

Making your work life more satisfying and build accomplishments that you can be proud of is a significant source of happiness and welling. Feel free to use this checklist to plan your future and put your plans into actions by implementing your career roadmap.

Planning for Career Success:

1. Identify your strengths. Think about your talents and character and reflect in how you can apply them. Use specialized tests that will suggest careers that may suit your personality.

2. Set specific and SMART goals. Create objectives that will motivate you and milestones that allow you to evaluate your progress. Give yourself realistic short and long-term targets that are challenging but reachable. SMART goals stand for:

• Specific (sensible, significant)

• Measurable (meaningful)

• Achievable (attainable)

• Relevant (reasonable and realistic)

• Time bound (time-sensitive)

1. Address obstacles. You may find that you need some additional resources to complete your goals. Figure out what’s holding you back and how you’ll overcome it.

2. Be Yourself and build your brand. What makes you unique? Developing your personal brand will help you to market yourself. You’ll know what you stand for and the audience that you’re trying to reach.

3. Think out of the box, Look abroad, and Plan ahead. Career planning is an ongoing process that requires more than building your resume. Review your career roadmap regularly to decide if it’s time to make a change.

4. Write it down. Put your career roadmap down on paper. You’ll be more likely to keep your strategy and plan in mind instead of letting it get buried under daily events.

5. Stay positive. Your professional career may last 50 years or more, so a joyful attitude will help you to persevere. Look on the bright side of difficult situations and learn how to laugh at yourself.

Implementing Your Career Roadmap:

1. Build your qualifications. Once in College, seek opportunities for additional education and training. Develop useful skills through gaining some experience.

2. Manage your time. Block out space in your calendar for activities essential to your goals and wellbeing. You may need to cut down on distractions.

3. Learn from others. Benefit from the experience of others. Find a mentor or shadow a star upper year students, professors or professionals.

4. Increase your visibility. Promote yourself by volunteering for committees and joining your professional association asap. Write articles or publish your own industry blog.

5. Maximize your network. Build a strong network where you can share practical and moral support. Ask others for help when you need it. Be generous with sharing information and referrals.

6. Take risks. If you want to excel at work, you’ll need to move beyond your comfort zone. Focus on gradual growth you can sustain, and the small victories will add up.

7. Talk with professionals in your desired career. Learn about prospective employers to find about fringe benefits that are important to you.