The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Having a successful career is something many individuals want in life, as it can bring several opportunities and capital. However, achieving that is easier said than done. Achieving success in your career requires patience, time, and a lot of effort, which is why many people struggle to develop their careers. That said, it’s not impossible either. Keep reading to learn how to build a successful career in a few steps.
Establish Your Goals
The first step in building a successful career is to establish your goals and plan for them. For example, if you’re interested in becoming a loan officer in Miami, you would have to take a Florida continuing education course approved by the NMLS. This requires you to block off time in your schedule for studying. So, if you’re currently working or are a student, you’ll have to plan ahead.
Without knowing your goals, it can be challenging to stay on the path you’ve set for yourself, making it easy to venture off course. Ultimately, your goals will be your reference point for whenever you lose sight of the finish line.
If you’re unsure of your goals, consider creating a list and brainstorming things that interest you. You can do this alongside a friend, family member, or career coach. Once you’ve generated a list, you can begin to break it down into smaller, more obtainable goals.
Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Your strengths are what make you stand out from the crowd, so do some soul searching and identify what yours are. This way, you can invest time and resources into searching for a career that suits your strengths. Knowing your strengths can also help you learn what type of person you are and the environments you work best in.
On the other hand, identifying your weaknesses makes it easier to understand what industries and work settings you want to avoid. These weaknesses could also be holding you back, so knowing what they are allows you to work on yourself and find ways to keep moving forward.
Have a Positive Attitude
Having a positive attitude can attract the right people into your life, which is important in building a support system that encourages you to grow. This also allows you to be more open to opportunities out of your comfort zone, such as accepting jobs abroad or becoming an entrepreneur. Plus, positive thinking has several health benefits, such as increased lifespan, lower levels of stress and depression, reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, and more.
Build Your Network
As the saying goes, “Your network is your net worth.” So, it’s important to build your network with meaningful connections that’ll positively impact your career growth. However, this doesn’t mean you have to hand out a business card to everyone you meet. Instead, find business professionals and influencers in an industry you want to see yourself in and start talking to them. Consider joining local professional groups to expand your network—for instance, if you’re a lawyer practicing in New York City, look into New York legal networking groups.
By networking, you’re creating opportunities that you otherwise would’ve missed out on. While this may be intimidating, you never know what it can lead it to.
Don’t Settle
Once you’ve reached your initial goals, make sure you continue to develop your career. It’s easy to become comfortable and settle for the job you currently have, but there’s always room to improve and grow.
For instance, if you have years of experience in a certain role, why not apply for an executive position in your field? Additionally, consider reading books or listening to podcasts about the industry you’re working in to learn more and gradually become an industry expert.
At the end of the day, a successful career is subjective, and what it means will vary from person to person. For some, a successful career may be all about having fun and enjoying oneself. For others, this may be more about financial success. Regardless, use the guide above to lead you in the right direction. Good luck!
