As the spring season kicks off, and we see the budding of trees and flowers all around us, it is also the perfect time to reflect on your career growth and goals. During this season, take a fresh look at your resume, your LinkedIn profile, and your overall job search tactics. Preparing to jump into job search is a similar process to planting a new seed in your garden. These three tips will help you stay rooted on the journey to a blooming career!
- Know what you are planting. Not every seed (or person) is the same. Everyone has a unique purpose and a different set of goals. Daises and lemons both begin as seeds, but each requires unique care, and their purposes are quite different. A Help Desk Manager and a CDL driver are both jobs, but each requires unique skills that lead to very different career pathways, right? So, reflect on what kind of work brings you joy, identify your transferrable skills, and pinpoint your ultimate career goals. Consider questions like: ‘What are my values and do they align with the job I’m seeking?’, ‘What benefits are most important to me?’, and ‘What kind of workplace culture would I thrive in?’
- Soak up the environment. Just like some seeds need special soil to grow, some need to live in a specific climate, and others require just the right amount of sunlight – each job has a unique purpose within its environment, or industry. In job search, your environment is the industry you are in and the factors that support your growth. Take time to research your preferred industry! Some examples include learning about industry trends, understanding specific tasks and skills required for the job, becoming familiar with the projected job growth, and connecting with folks in your network that are established within the industry. (Pro tip: The Occupational Information Network is a free online resource to help you get started!)
- Tender, love, and care! Some plants need to be watered every day and some plants can go weeks without water, but they all need TLC – just like job searching! It takes time for a seed to sprout, and it will take time for the perfect career opportunity to present itself. The key is to persevere! Some days you might need to step out of your comfort zone to network with more people. Other days you might need to rest. Be patient with yourself, and try to stay motived!
(Pro tip: Be sure to reach out for expert advice if you need it. That’s what National Able Network is here for!)
