Five New Year’s Resolutions For Professional Growth
The past couple of years have been odd to say the least. For those who have been able to maintain a steady job throughout the pandemic, it can be easy to get complacent professionally while those looking for employment may need to boost their skillsets to achieve their professional goals. This is actually a great time to do this as McKinsey reports that the time is ripe for workers to reskill themselves and move into career paths with better upward mobility.
With this in mind, here are the five New Year’s Resolutions every professional should make to boost their careers.
- Learn a New Tech Skill
Technology isn’t the future anymore. It is now! Pick a tech skill that interests you and take the time to learn it. You don’t have to get a degree in it, but even understanding the basics can help you perform better at work. For example, even basic coding skills may help you automate some of your more mundane tasks at work, leaving you with time to focus on aspects of work that interest you more. Learning how to use design software like Photoshop or InDesign can give you a chance to express your creative side while also enhancing your digital design skills which are highly in demand.
Have a look at this short course on data analysis or this course on digital photography to see what you can learn.
- Push Yourself Out of Your Comfort Zone
Make a resolution to try something new in 2022. Volunteer to do something you wouldn’t normally do. For example, volunteer to organise an industry conference for your company. It will help you gain recognition at work and might even be a lot of fun. Expand your horizons by volunteering your time outside of work. Try spending time at a homeless shelter, with an animal welfare charity, or a care home. See if you can use your professional skills to help out. It may give you a whole new perspective on what you do!
- Learn Something for Fun
It’s important that you grow personally as well as professionally. Needless to say, that one can drive the other. Make sure you make time for yourself and your personal interests outside of work. Make a resolution to learn a new hobby or a skill. Learn to play tennis or the guitar.
If you are more academically minded, then why not explore a whole new subject? Check out this course on psychology offered by the Monash University. You may find that it has applications in your workplace too.
- Up Your Social Media Game and Network
With the pandemic restricting movement, LinkedIn is one of the best tools you can use to grow your professional brand and network. Keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date and share articles and blogs you find interesting on a regular basis. Maybe even write some of your own.
Use LinkedIn to grow your professional network and try and make one new connection a month. You’ll be amazed at the opportunities that come your way.
- Earn a Micro Credential
Micro Credentials (or nano degrees) are mini qualifications you earn through short, accredited courses of study. These highly focused courses are typically concentrated on one or two aspects of a wider topic. They can help you build skills you need, network, or even make you eligible for a raise. Explore all the micro credentials we have to offer here.
Once you’ve made your resolutions, create a timeline through the year for when you’d like to achieve them. Don’t attempt to achieve them all by the end of January. Take your time and enjoy what the new year brings.
We wish you a great holiday season and look forward to seeing you in 2022!
References:
Where the jobs are: An inside look at our new Future of Work research, McKinsey Global Institute, February 2021, https://www.mckinsey.com/about-us/new-at-mckinsey-blog/where-the-jobs-are-insights-from-our-new-study