4 steps to reinvent your career

Reinventing your career can help you diversify your skill set and lead to greater happiness in your work and personal life. It can seem daunting, especially if you’ve been in an established career for a long time.

Here are four tips to help you get started: 

1. Set up realistic goals 

Set targets that are achievable. Think about where you are now, and where you would like to be. What measurable steps will it take for you to get to that point? Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself, but be realistic so that you avoid becoming frustrated and discouraged. Your path to success is dependant on you and what you do. 

The more you fail, and learn from failure, the more confident you will be in stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things in your career. 

2. Ask why? 

With each of your goals, ask yourself why? It is important to make sure that the steps you are taking contribute to your career goals. When you come to an understanding of why you are doing something, you will be able to shift the outcome in your favour.

Some questions to ask yourself are:

• Does this step contribute to my long-term career goals?
• If I commit to this step will I be motivated out of bed every morning and will I be happy in this working environment?
• Are there learning and development opportunities? Will I be able to learn something new? 
   

If you let your curiosity lead you, the path to discovery – and a career you’re excited about – is ahead. Identifying how you are contributing to your long term goals and success will help you enjoy the work you are doing. 

3. Reinvent yourself through change 

When you have been in a well established career, it can be hard to deviate from the status quo. However, diversifying your skills can be the difference between a side-step and a step forward. 

A recent Robert Walters survey revealed that all generations valued continuous learning and development. It is a key factor in people’s enjoyment of their jobs and careers. One way to diversity your skill set is to adopt a new technology. Attending local industry Meetups can help you identify technologies that your market is using. 

Alternatively you can invest in a skill you simply find interesting. You will be driven to learn about it and these skills can often translate into your working life. Embracing your need for learning and development shows initiative and broadens your wider skill set.

Diversifying your skills can be the difference between a side-step and a step forward

4. Embrace the struggle

Learn from life’s hurdles. Use productive failure as a knowledgeable asset to become successful. A lesson that many learn throughout their careers is to be resilient in the face of setbacks and to remain flexible in the face of challenges.  

Sometimes, it’s about stepping outside of your current challenge, and putting it into perspective. When faced with difficulty, shift your focus to what drives you and remember the goals you are working towards.

There’s no time like right now to start reinventing your career. Contact one of our team to find out what your next step could be.