With Christmas fast approaching and the silly season drawing to a close, it’s almost hard to remind yourself that a new year is upon us and if you’re not careful, we will be back here in 12 months as fast as you can ask “where’s the time gone?”. That is why it’s important to plan now, over the Christmas break, for what you want to achieve in the new year.
Professional development.
Every job is a learning experience. You should always keep learning and be up to date with current trends and changes. If you don’t learn, become proficient or take workshops which keep you relevant, this could stall your professional development. LinkedIn Learning offers great opportunities to advance your knowledge. It could be foolish to become complacent, as complacency is the enemy of growth.
Career advancement.
When you started your current role, you probably did something in your mind where you tried to picture where you could be in 2-3 years. I think it’s important for people to “look within” and see if this lines up with your reality. This could be difficult for some people, but if you have been with the same company for the last couple of years and have not made the progress you think you should have, then it might be time to look elsewhere. The grass is not always be greener elsewhere, but it would be something different.
Are you getting the best of your work?
This could be an opportunity to not just look ahead but also reflect and review your previous 12 months. You might look back and say that in the last year “I was great at X but Y left a lot to be desired”. What I am referring to here is time management. You will find your work hours are the same from one year to the next, so ensure you are using that time to its fullest. It sounds simple but being efficient with your time paves way to greater success.
Think ahead.
Finally, the last thing to do when setting your goals is to ask yourself “in 12 months, will I be happy where I am or would I just be floating?” Once you’ve set your goals, assess if they will advance or improve any skills which you already possess. If you are choosing to float along, then setting goals would probably not be on your agenda.
Whether your goals are small, medium, or large, they must be your own. It is also important to choose goals that analyse who you are, what you are, and who you want to become, but in summary, they must be your own.
MURRAY ROACHE
Consultant
Murray joined the Optimum family in January 2023. With his background in law and customer service, Murray’s strengths lie in identifying client’s needs and then working together to find a solution. Murray loves a good chat with his candidates and thrives on finding the right fit for his clients and candidates alike. He is passionate about helping others find what is most important to them for their career journey.
