How to Make Sure You Stay on Top of Your Career
The studying and learning does not stop once you have graduated from university and secured a job. In order to keep excelling within your career, you need to continue learning and looking for ways to improve your skillset so that you can learn new things and remain vigilant. This is essential for certain fields such as medicine, marketing, and technology, as new breakthroughs and advancements can change the way an industry works.
Becoming lax within such fields can be problematic for you and your career, as you will be unable to remain knowledgeable about important subjects that can not only impact your place of work but also become quite dangerous if other people such as patients rely on you. Here are some helpful tips on how you can stay on top of your career and continue to improve your skills.
Decide on an Area of Expertise
Usually, there will be one area of expertise that interests you more than others. Taking the time to become an expert in this section of your work can be greatly beneficial as it allows you to unlock your passion and become a driving force. Those who have a career that they care about are more likely to excel and try their best to remain knowledgeable within their field, as they would like to progress and potentially even earn promotions.
Besides having added motivation, there are other great benefits to becoming an expert in one area of your career. Not only will you have a greater passion for your job, but you will also become a renowned expert. This can lead to job prospects and a higher salary.
Continue to Study and Learn
As previously said, studying and learning never stops. Therefore, you need to find the time to continue studying so that you remain vigilant about your career. Becoming too lax can lead to you falling behind and causing issues within your field, and as previously stated, this can have devastating consequences to those who may be under your care if you work in healthcare. You remain on top of your game by taking the time to read new materials, attending classes, or even obtaining a master’s. Texas Woman’s University has written an article on the Evolution of Nursing, highlighting how nursing has changed throughout the years and will continue to adapt.
Find a Mentor
You can never be too old or too experienced for a mentor. There will always be someone in your field of work that is worth speaking to and learning from, as they will possess greater knowledge and experience. If there is someone who you work with and who inspires you, do not be afraid to speak with them and ask them for advice. Of course, you may want to strike up a genuine friendship so that they do not think that you are only speaking with them because of a potential mentorship. What’s more, you should never go in expecting them to want to be a mentor for you, either.
When approaching someone to be a mentor, you need to do so professionally. Do this by:
- Scheduling a conversation (book an appointment to see them)
- Provide them with a brief outline of what you are seeking (you may need to do this when scheduling an appointment)
- Explain why you have chosen them
- Acknowledge that it will take up their time
- Follow-up if you do not hear from them but do not hound them if they do not get back to you
Research Trends and How They Could Impact You
Every industry will have trends appear and impact the way you work. Some of these trends may be passing and will not impact how you work, but some may be so ground-breaking that you have to adapt. For the latter, you need to make amendments to the way you work.
Trends could be the invention of a new product that streamlines the way your industry works, resulting in you and your co-workers need to learn how to utilize this piece of tech so that you can work efficiently and effectively. Not taking the time to learn this can cause you to fall behind and, if you are not careful, be unable to fulfill your job requirements.
Make sure you remain vigilant so that you can be ready to adapt once disruption arrives. Within healthcare, a breakthrough for a new treatment could mean that you have to attend conferences and study textbooks or even take exams. If you are passionate about your career, this will not be a problem for you.
Attend Conferences and Networking Events
If your company and place of work are committed to helping you progress and expand your skills, then they are more than likely willing to send you to a conference if it is beneficial to the company but also to your career. You should not rely on your place of work to locate events and ask you to attend them, however. Instead, take the time to find courses or conferences that interest you and can offer insight into your career and help you progress. Once you have found a selection of courses, make sure to speak with your manager or supervisor and explain why it would be beneficial. You may have to somewhat present your reasons for attending so that they understand how it could be useful to you and them.
Look After Your Health and Wellbeing
No one can avoid getting sick, it is a way of life and something that can impact the healthiest of individuals. However, there are precautions you can put in place to ensure that you are as healthy as possible and can avoid burnout.
When we are healthier, both physically and mentally, we perform better at work and are more inclined to work harder too. You can look after your mental health by:
- Getting plenty of unbroken sleep
- Eating a balanced diet
- Drinking plenty of water
- Managing stress (and making changes if you find yourself getting too stressed)
- Exercising
- Doing a job that you truly enjoy
- Connecting with others
- Having a good work-life balance
To ensure that you are physically well, you should follow the above advice but also ensure that you are eating a balanced diet that is sustainable and full of fruit, vegetables, and wholegrains while also living a happy and balanced lifestyle that allows you to practice self-care. You should also consider taking multi-vitamins.
Reach Out if You Need Help
Work stress can impact the very best of us, and there is no shame in admitting that work is too much and causing you stress. Too much stress can have a negative impact on your health and cause you to feel mentally and physically unwell, so if you are starting to experience feelings of distress or find yourself lacking energy, reach out for help.
You can reach out for help by speaking with your supervisor or line manager and explaining how you are feeling and why you are feeling this way. It could be that you have not been properly trained and are finding work too difficult or enduring. Your work may suggest that they enroll you on a course to help you, making work a lot easier and much more enjoyable.
It could also be that you simply have too much work on your plate, and if this is the case, then you have the right to ask for help so that the load is lightened. Being transparent is the best thing to do, not only for your own wellbeing but also for your place of work. If you are swamped with work and feeling pressured, then you are more likely to make a mistake or miss a deadline. This can have devastating consequences for not only you but also your place of work. Request some assistance so that you do not stretch yourself too thin. Your co-workers will not feel as if you are passing off the responsibility onto them if you simply explain your reasons for asking for them for help.
Create KPIs and Track Your Progress
Most places of work will want to ensure that their employees have KPIs. This is because it provides their employees with an incentive to work harder and improve their performance and skillset. Make sure that your KPIs resonate with your job, your interests, and are achievable within the timeframe provided to you. Once your KPIs are in place, track your progress and create a schedule so that you can improve your skills and keep building on them. Do not leave your KPIs to the last minute so you will not be able to complete them with such little time.
A career is a lifelong responsibility, so be sure to choose one that you are passionate about. Lacking passion can cause you to stagnate and not perform to the best of your ability.
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