5 Tips for Successful Career Planning

It is easy to get caught up in the day to day routine of work that you forget about your career advancement needs. When it comes to planning your career, no one knows better than you where your dreams and talents are.

Here are 5 tips for successful career planning.

1. Focus on specific career goals and list down the exact steps for attaining each of them. To-do lists and timetables will help you to organise your plan to achieve each milestone.
   
   
2. Update your resume frequently so that it incorporates your best achievements. Include details of your accomplishments and projects that contributed to the company’s bottom line. Design your resume such that information is succinct and the overall layout is pleasant.
   
   
3. Determine what makes you indispensable to your organisation. If you cannot think of something, now is a good time to come up with something and make that a goal. If you have skills or knowledge that can impact your workplace directly and positively, you will be more likely to get a raise or promotion.
   
   
4. Get out and network. Join fellow professionals at conferences, trade shows and seminars to stay connected on the latest industry trends and development. It is also wise to know professionals outside of your field of expertise. Entrepreneurs, consultants and recruiters should form part of your contacts as job leads and inspiration could come from the least likely places.
   
   
5. Humility is one of the virtues closely associated with leadership. In the course of your career, values such as being humble, possessing humour, being kind to others can speak volumes about your character. These values are often overlooked and neglected in our busy lives, but you will be amazed at the results they bring to your career!