RISING BY RESOLUTION
Workers who make career resolution, and create a plan to make them happen, can see
benefits that pay of for years.
Only 12 percent of workers made career-related resolutions at the beginning of last
year, but nearly three –quarters of those who did achieve their goals by the end of the
year, a survey by staffing agency accountemps found. The top career resolution :to
learn new skills. Resolving to earn a raise or promotions and work /life balance were
close behind.
These goals can seen simple enough, but as with losing weight or paying down debt,
the path to lasting success can be complicated. The secret is to brake those big goals
into small, manageable tasks. An don’t think you have to go it alone. Help is available.
Here are a few of the most common career –related resolutions and some resources
that can help you simplify things and stay on track through out the year.
Learn New Skills :
This is the most popular, and it’s also the most accessible if you think broadly about
your paths for learning. It doesn’t mean you have to return to campus full time or spend
a lot of money. Find out whether your company offers tuition assistance, and if so, how
to qualify. Ask whether there are any classes or training being offered on-site. Consider
community collages and online option. They can be cheaper and are likely to offer more
convenient hours for working adults.
Improve Work–Life Balance :
Family duties, long hours and crushing commutes leave plenty of us frazzled. If moving
or changing jobs isn’t possible, look for ways to steal back some time at home. A
professional organizer can help you streamline your daily routines and contain the
chaos. One way to find one is thro’ the website of national association of professional
organizers (www.napo.net). Services range from general clutter-busting to feng shui
makeovers. Have the organizer start with that disaster you call a home office.
Increase Your Earnings :
First, find out whether your pay and benefits are in line with market norms. Then be
specific about just how much more you want to make. Once you have a reasonable
amount in your mind, create a strategy that will help you reach that goal.
Change Careers :
If it’s not just the job that has got you down, but the profession as a whole, it’s time to
switch careers. A professional career coach can guide you thro’ this decision and the
individual steps, one by one, to make it happen. You can find one thro’ the website of
the professional association of resume writers and career coaches (www.parw.com)
Start Own Business :
If you hope will end with your name atop the company letterhead, check out the small
business administration’s online assessment(www.sba.gov/assessment/tool/index.html).
This tool will walk you through a series of questions to determine how ready you are to
start your own company and where you need help. When you are finished, you will have
a list of recommendations on key topics, including funding and taxes.
-DR. NAVRAJ SINGH SANDHU, www.navraj@ghmail.com