Already a member?
Welcome to Brazen Careerist!
Emily Ma is using Brazen Careerist to share ideas. Join now to become a member and start networking with Emily Ma and other professionals just like you. Learn more.
Brazen careerist
Where ambitious young professionals connect and grow
Email
Print
So, you want to achieve your career goals? Who doesn't? Sadly, not everyone can say they are reaching their career goals. On a brighter note, a lot of people have been successful. I've been fortunate to have spent time with young leaders in many industries throughout the country. These are the people that are making their dreams come true, and this is how they are making it happen!
Create, Monitor, Adjust Goals
In order to achieve your career goals, you must have some (obviously!). My professional goals include being considered an expert in my field and to publish my work professionally. Once these goals are created, set forth a plan to achieve them and be sure to set benchmarks to know if you are staying the course. Finally, as you develop professionally and personally, review your goals and adjust them to match your interest and passions.
Network, Network, Network
Meet as many people as you can! For all the Mad Men lovers out there (I’m one of them!), Don Draper met Conrad Hilton (Founder of the Hilton Hotels) while mixing a drink, without even knowing it was him. Weeks later, Hilton contacted Draper for assistance. Point: You never know who you are talking to, who that person knows, etc. Take advantage of every situation. Every environment I’m in, I try to at least strike a conversation with one person (airport gate, restaurants, fitness center, etc.) You never know how that one person may change my life.
Find A Mentor
Establish a mentor that will help you monitor and track your career progression. Avoid your direct supervisor/boss. While they may be a great leader and have the career that you desire, they would much rather have you being productive instead of speaking to them about how you can keep progressing through the company/industry. Additionally, they already know you and what you are capable of; find someone else that will expand your network and be able to help you leverage your career.
Research/Learn
Research people that has your desired career. See how their journey led them to where they are now. Learn about what the guiding forces have been in their career, where and how they research the industry and leaders within it and where they find motivation and inspiration.
Personal Branding
Look at yourself as a product or service. What is the brand that is attached to you? Are you hard-working, detail-oriented or innovated and creative? What do the personal brands of the leaders in your industry say about them? Throughout your career, take the approach as if you are a product or service and the companies that you would like to work for are the end consumer…what’s important to them? Now develop your personal brand to reflect those qualities.
For more timely, relevant, and engaging articles,
subscribe to Brazen Careerist.
- Why You Might Be Better Off Without a Job After College
- Continuing Education: Extending Learning Beyond Your Campus Years
- The Anti-Stalker’s Guide for Converting Online Contact into Real World Collaboration
- A New Kind of Business Mover and Shaker
- How To Find a Writing Partner Who Can Help You Achieve Your Goals and Make More Money
Comments
10.20.09
Are there any books you have come across that are specifically related to personal branding? It's a concept I myself am struggling with...
10.20.09
The best book I have found is "Me 2.0". The author is Dan Schawbel. He has his own personal branding blog at www.personalbrandingblog.com.
The book covers EVERYTHING! Check it out...easy read too!
10.20.09
Great post! To add to your research/learn point: I spend time every week researching through LinkedIn. Some may construe this as stalking, but really I'm interested in how someone got to the position they are in so I can see different ways to get to where I'd like to be in my own career. Looking up companies you're interested in, finding people with titles you aspire to have one day, and looking at their work histories can be a really rewarding exercise, especially if you're unsure of the job you'd like to have. LinkedIn is definitely a great starting point for setting yourself on a career path.
Got Something To Say?
Got Something To Say?
Not a Member? Brazen Careerist is a career management tool for next-generation professionals. Set up a free account today to comment on this post and start sharing your ideas. Learn more.
Login to view your networks!
 |
|
 |
 |
|
