Rapid advancements and business requirements are evolving at an unprecedented rate; in fact, change seems to be the only constant. Amid growing demands, we often find ourselves relentlessly striving and searching for better balance in our personal and professional lives. Interestingly, the key to navigating these complex dynamics is simple yet impactful: Invest in yourself consistently. Practically speaking, what does this mean?
Self-investment is a powerful strategy that represents a fundamental shift from simply hoping that opportunities will find you to actively finding and creating the conditions for success and fulfillment in your career. Crosworks has helped thousands of individuals do just this. We take pride in our ability to help you discover and pursue your ambitions. Find out more about Crosworks’ offerings by scheduling a brief phone call.
The Foundation: Understanding Yourself Through Self-Assessment
Are you fully aware? Aware of your intrinsic needs, skills, motivators and your ability to map out a successful professional path? The bitter truth is that most of us simply aren’t as aware as we believe. Thankfully, professional career assessments exist and serve as invaluable tools for self-discovery and strategic planning.
Unlike generic personality tests, comprehensive career assessments are designed to provide detailed insights and understanding of an individual’s interests, needs, skills, motivators and even the environment in which we will thrive. Personalized career services and one-on-one coaching sessions help identify patterns that reveal an individual’s actual interests (usually not obvious), thus highlighting the potential jobs or career paths that one may not have previously considered. Through these sessions, you can also identify your true behaviors, skills and untapped potential, pointing to a way forward and career growth.
Strategies for Career Alignment
Create a Personal Development Plan
The first step is to apply the assessment results. Identify any gaps between where you currently stand and where you wish to be. Hone existing skills and develop yourself in way that aligns with your interests and current/future market requirements. This form of learning and development can include formal education, online courses, certifications and hands-on experiences through volunteering or taking on side projects.
Network with Purpose
Once we develop an understanding of our actual needs, we find it easier to identify the right people to connect with. So, instead of generic networking, you seek individuals whose interests and experience align with your goals. Networking is proven to be a valuable way to build relationships and identify opportunities.
Pursue Strategic Experiences
Seek opportunities that allow you to understand and develop your interests while acquiring relevant skills. Be open and dedicted to finding opportunities that build your skills and knowledge. Express your interest in taking up cross-functional projects, consulting work or leadership opportunities in your current or other types of organizations.
Evaluate and Regularly Reassess
Remember, your interests, needs and skills continuously evolve over time. Ideally, you should schedule regular reviews of your career direction, using updated assessments and personalized plans developed by professional career strategists to ensure that you possess the right skills that will lead to your growth.
The Compound Effect
As individuals, we need to understand that investing in ourselves creates a compound effect that goes beyond immediate career benefits. Through mindful self-investment and professional career assessment, we develop greater self-awareness and alignment that helps us make better decisions, build meaningful relationships and experience higher levels of job satisfaction and fulfillment. It’s a cyclical effect. This proactive approach leads to a conscious effort to perform at a high level, thereby allowing new career opportunities to present themselves, which furthers personal and professional growth.
Are you ready to find clarity and focus in your career? Is it time to pursue more meaningful and rewarding work? At Crosworks, we take pride in our ability to help you discover and pursue your best-fit career. Our certified career strategists work one-on-one with you and meet you where you are. If you want to build the career that’s meant for you, schedule a free introductory call with Crosworks to learn about all of our Individual Services and how we can be the partner you need.