When it comes to your career, you’re always going to have ups and downs. Although you may have dreams of what your ideal job will be, you won’t always get there right away. Nor will you experience an easy ride for getting there. Because each of our career paths will always be unique. And coming across kinks along the way is only natural. At the same time, it’s only natural that you’re going to want to progress at certain points in your career. And you should.
Getting a new job can be bittersweet. It can be really exciting, because you do want to grow and progress and you know that you need to take steps in order to get to where you want to be. But at the same time, it can be quite scary. A new job often means a new company, a new place of work, new teammates, and maybe even a new industry. And sometimes, all of this newness can be really intimidating. So, you often need to prepare.
But when you’re a little apprehensive, how should you look to prepare for your new job? On the one hand, you know that you need to just bite the bullet and do it. But at the same time, you also need to know exactly what you should be doing in order to progress forward and grow within your career. And that’s why you’ve come to the right place. Because we’re going to walk you through the best way to get yourself prepared for a new job.
Set Goals
First of all, you always need to set goals. There’s no way around this. Without setting goals, you won’t have a very clear vision about what it is that you’re trying to achieve. This then makes it really hard for you to be able to get anywhere. But when you do set career goals, you’ll find that you are then able to have a much clearer vision of where you want your career to go. Then, you can take the steps to make it happen.
Know Where You’re Headed
When you’ve worked out what it is that you want, you can then start creating a kind of plan. Although you know what you want to achieve in the course of your career, you then have to break it all down into much smaller (and more manageable) objectives. A few years per each objective is usually best. Then, you need to focus on your first going and where you need to be for that. That way, you can move on up swiftly and still head in the right direction.
Update Your Resume
Next, you need to really work on your CV. It needs to be your biggest sales tool. You may even want to go as far as creating an online portfolio or blog to support your career too. That way, you have something visual to show potential employers as well. You need to make sure that your CV really sells you in order to get yourself ready for your next move.
Network
Even if you don’t feel as if you’re that qualified for what it is that you want to do as your end goal, you still need to start climbing the ladder. This means that you need to get comfortable with networking and ASAP. When you network, you open new doors for yourself. It might be out of your comfort zone at first, but networking at events and online is a great way to grab new opportunities and land your next gig when the time is right.
Go The Extra Mile
From here, you’re also going to want to make sure that you’re always going the extra mile. When you’ve met a potential employer and you’ve been putting yourself out there, you really need to show them why you’re the star candidate. Take time on your CV, portfolio, application, and sales pitch. Because you need to make a lasting impression, and doing things differently can help with that.
Research, Research, Research
Both before you apply for the job and when you’re about to start, you need to research. Researching your employer not only prepares you for the interview or when you start, but it shows the employer that you’re dedicating. They’ll be impressed that you took the time to look into them.
Don’t be Afraid to Relocate
Often the jobs you want or the job growth area of your field might not be around your hometown. Relocation can be daunting but should not be a major roadblock if you are prepared. Explore the options and take the leap if you really want that job. A big tip for you is also to make sure that you can settle in as well as possible. If you’re relocating, then look into something such as Monaco residency or similar in the area. Relocation offers the possibility to explore a new area and make new friends. Adventure is out there!
Prepare Yourself
Next, you’re going to want to get yourself ready for the job and your first day. This may mean investing in new clothing that will suit the workplace and make you feel more confident, or even practicing the new route that you’re going to take to work so that you know you’ll be on time. There are lots of things that you can do the night before, such as lay out your new outfit and get your lunch ready, that can help too.
Get A Good Night’s Sleep
One of the most important things you can do is get a good night’s sleep. This can often be hard when you’re excited or apprehensive, because your mind won’t switch off. But if you’ve planned and prepared as the last steps have pointed out, you should be able to relax a little. And when you’ve had a great night’s sleep, you’ll feel well-rested and ready to make waves in your new job.
Be Yourself
Finally, you’re going to want to make sure that you just be yourself. Don’t be afraid to find your feet and talk to people. Being friendly is a great way to settle in and make new friends right away. But also be sure to get stuck in and show your best skills off. Because it’s always great to be able to do the best job from the start. That way, you’ll already be working towards your next goal.