New Year not off to a good start? Freezing cold, digging the
car out of the snow? Resolutions forgotten or abandoned already?? It’s not too
late to get yourself some career goals for 2015....we still have fifty weeks left!!!
It's easy to make resolutions, under the influence of the
glow of Christmas and a couple of drinks. However, back to the reality of the
weather we have in January and trying to pay bills, and things don't look so rosy!!
It will help if the goals and plans are realistic to begin
with, therefore try breaking them down into immediate, short and long term
goals. Some examples may well be that you
will begin a diet or be eager to provide yourself with work and an
income, and get off benefits ...and yes, you can make a start, but expecting to
go on holiday, or buy a home will be a goal too far too soon and will be a longer term plan . I keep in mind that I attended a course for
budding entrepreneurs, where we were being instructed to make short, medium and
long term goals for building a business, while we have a tendency to want a
quick fix.
Short-term objectives are points which will be accomplished
within the next few weeks or even few months...like having a de-cluttering
clear out, ready for spring cleaning. Such
a plan is achieved bit by bit, e.g. one room at a time .Working through the
stages completes the goal.
In the case of job searching, an example might be, to first
make a generic CV, then build up a set of job specific CV's for the roles
you're going to apply for. Getting a qualification? That begins with finding
the courses of study you need and would benefit you and what your future plans
are and enrolling on a course!! It is true that the past years have seen many
financial cuts to adult education and retraining, but there are many excellent
free online courses from reputable organisations and I would especially
recommend in the UK, vision2learn
.
Long-term goals typically require a variety of steps and do
not happen overnight. An example was my realisation that I might use my way
with words to write and create an income. The process is quite similar to
applying for a lot of 'normal' jobs...I apply and a few I get, and many I do
not. I will not have an immediate or even quick financial gain, but it will
grow.
Of course you may have listed your resolutions /goals
somewhere, even just in your head, however career goals tend to be recorded
more formally. This can be because you're a part of a government employment
programme, such as being on Job Seekers Allowance in the UK, and have to record
your job search activities. Even if not officially required to keep
a record of your job search activities, it is very helpful to do so.
Here are two links to job search record systems:
Keep a record of your objectives/goals, and use the excellent
and often fun on-line ideas to help you.
Bucket lists are a popular in term of late. I started a bucket list and
shared it in an earlier blog entry. However, finances and Job centre rules
meant that I did not have time for it, but I do hope to develop it and see some
achieved aims.....Enter a Google search for free bucket list templates and
enjoy the ideas. You can even make a career specific bucket list. Just Google
Career bucket list for ideas to get going.
Of course, many people
have no alternative other than for work related goals to take precedence
over personal ones, but you will adapt
as necessary, and don’t be too hard on
yourself if something does not work out....celebrate your achievements !!
*** if you have a web site or blog, get it up and running,
place content on it regularly and monetise it with e.g. affiliate programmes,
i.e. merchandising supporting your niche...children, computers, weddings etc.
etc.....more regarding this in the months to follow....Most people looking for
a job would benefit from having a website as a place to illustrate the skills
and experience that they have, a website shows ‘your brand’. It need not have
any cost involved as a simple website and or blog, can be set up at no cost and
certainly be adequate for at least to start with. While demonstrating your ‘brand’,
who you are and what you can do , you may even find that your website and/or
blog leads to a new career in itself , perhaps as a writer , an affiliate
marketer selling products and services
online, selling your own goods and/or crafts , or indeed the many other ways
that there are to make
money with your own website or blog .
Not all of these are free but some of the sites have a free
version e.g. Weebly
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