A new decade is perfect time to consider the next steps to take in your career if you haven’t already.
So, what things should you consider when making your next leap in 2020?
First answer, are you happy where you are?
You may have already decided you want to move on maybe because…
- There’s a lack of opportunity to progress?
- You’re ready for a change of environment?
- You don’t like the job?
- You don’t get on with your superiors?
- You’d like a full career change?
or you might be having your doubts but not yet fully supported the idea. If this is the case, ask yourself these questions.
Are you doing the job you signed up for?
You might have ventured off into something different to what you originally anticipated, or taken on far too much responsibility. It can be a hard corner to fight during on-boarding when they tell you they want you to do one thing, but a few months down the line you end up doing another which you struggle to fight because your contract specifically states that you may also have ‘other duties as the company considers appropriate.’
Do you dread going into work?
We all have days when we struggle getting out of bed. It’s unrealistic to think you’re going to enjoy every day at work, but are you starting to dread the idea of going in? It might be time to consider why you’re feeling this way and is it time to move on?
How is your work performance?
Do you think you’re working to your maximum performance and why? If you know that you’re not, it’s probably not gone unnoticed so, is it because you’ve gotten lazier or is there something holding you back?
How long have you been in your current role?
Have you been in your current role long enough for it to develop and for you to make an impact? or have you been in your current role for too long with lack of direction for the future?
Are you happy with the companies’ structure and processes?
Your specific job role might be fine, but there’s a lack of direction because the company structure needs to be improved. Ask, are there ways you can input on this? And is it something that’s realistically going improve in the timescale you’d want it to?
Is there a high staff turnover?
High staff turnover is a clear indication that somethings not quite right. It may be because of the company’s values or the sector that it is in so, find out why employees leave and if you were to leave what would be the most likely reason?
Are changes being made?
Change is not always a bad thing, and for a company to stay competitive it must make changes to do so but these can often affect employees. Are there too many changes and not enough consistency or are there not enough changes being made for development? Also, how much control as an employee do you have over certain adjustments?
Are you too stressed?
Well-being is important and although stress is normal and can be dependent on the role, industry, company and person, how do you know when it’s too much? If the stress from your role is starting to feed into your everyday life, consider what can be done to bring back the work-life balance. Work stress can not only have an impact on your life outside of work but also your performance inside of work.
Do the positives outweigh the negatives?
Consider the pros and cons. Do the positives outweigh the negatives enough to stay where you are? and what are the pros and cons if you were to move on? A job change is a big decision to make so, make sure you make it right.
If you are happy where you are, what are your next steps?
Would you want to take on more responsibility?
Career development is great, especially when it comes with a pay increase but that also means more often than not the responsibility increases too. So, is this a level of responsibility you’d be willing to take on? And would the outcome be worth it? It’s good to keep in mind how you could better yourself but, there’s nothing wrong with staying put if that’s what’s currently better suited to you. If possible speak to someone currently in that role or similar to give you a better insight.
Have you received enough training?
Every company has different onboarding strategies, some naturally better than others. Are there any areas you think you need more training on and could this be done internally? This can help you develop in your current position or to help you progress onto the next step. Being pro-active like this shows your employer that you’re open to growth.
Could you become more qualified?
Consider if you’re lacking certain qualifications which might hold you back when wanting to progress and if so, are these realistically achievable? and can your employer help you gain them?
Have you achieved your goals?
Have you achieved the original goals that were discussed when you started? This could be the difference between whether you’re able to progress or not. Why would your employer want you to progress higher when you haven’t achieved what you needed to in your current position?
Have a 1-1 with your manager
You want to make it clear to them what you want because if you don’t ask you don’t get but, you also need to hear from your boss what their plans are for you. See if you’re on the same page and if not, why?
Ask questions like: What position could you see me progressing into? Is there a position available? What’s the timescale for progression? What do I need to achieve to can get there?
When you know this, you can put in place a plan to achieve what you want to achieve.
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