2016 Career Audit: How to Advance Your Career in the New Year

2017 is just around the corner – and you can make it your best year yet by positing yourself to take advantage of its opportunities and advance your career.  Here’s how.

1. Take a moment to reflect. Sit down and make a list of your accomplishments and goals from 2016. How many goals did you reach?  How did your accomplishments line up with them?  Did you have any achievements that, while outstanding, did not actually further your planned career goals – and if so, why?
2. Set some goals. With a review of 2016 in hand, start planning your goals for 2017. Then, list two or three concrete steps you could take in the coming year to achieve them.  For instance, if one goal is to become certified in a new programming language, one concrete step might be “sign up for a programming class.”
3. Get the jump on your annual performance review. Most SoCal companies schedule annual performance reviews for the beginning of the year, so it pays to plan ahead. Start by reviewing your notes and any paperwork you received at your 2016 performance review.  As you did with your personal goals, make notes of where your accomplishments in the past year lined up with the goals set in your previous performance review.
   Then, grab your 2017 goals.  For each one, find ways to align it to the standards on which you’ll be reviewed, and come up with one or two questions you can ask that relate to the goal.  For instance, you might ask your boss, “I want to become certified in Java by the end of March.  Do you think that will help position me for a promotion by the end of the year?”  If you need more general help and guidance, ask for this as well: “What are three steps I can take to put myself in the best possible position for a promotion this year?”

At Marquee Staffing, our recruiters can help you advance your SoCal career, whether that means finding a great new job or preparing for advancement in the position you have.  Contact us today to learn more about our career opportunities in Southern California.