Developing your career can be challenging in times like these. With the switch to 'the new normal' and the advice to work from home as much as possible, your professional development may have received less attention. Together with the beautiful spring weather, it can be extra tempting to exchange your improvised home workplace for an 'office garden' where the sun shines and the drink is on the table before 5 o'clock. Do you temporarily have a less full work schedule or just time to spare? Invest in yourself and focus on your development, because you can influence this yourself.
“Precisely with a view to the future and impact on the labor market, this is the perfect opportunity to invest time in your professional development. This is the time to define your personal ambition, determine what it takes to realize it and go for it," says personal coach Muriel Hillenius. LinkedIn helps you on your way with tips to prevent your development from coming to a standstill.
Here's what you can do now to boost your career:
Set your ambitions and goals: Perhaps your agenda is emptier than usual, which offers the opportunity to pause and take a closer look at your career. What is your personal ambition? That starts with identifying what your dream or vision is, your talents, who you are and knowing what you stand for. Then determine what is needed to realize your ambition and link concrete goals to it so that you can work towards this. As Muriel says:“Dream it, believe it, visualize it, embrace it with passion and authenticity, give it your full attention and you will realize it.”
Development: Once your goals have been determined, you can convert them into concrete actions and follow-up steps. For example, do you not yet have the right skills to achieve your goals? Don't worry, many online webinars and training courses are being given these days. LinkedIn Learning has now, for example, offered more than 275 free courses to continue developing yourself - even in these times. From working productively from home to how best to manage stress, there's something for everyone. In March alone, around 4 million hours of this online learning material was watched worldwide. In addition, keep an eye on experts' social media accounts for live sessions where knowledge and expertise are shared.
Work on your online image: Now that meeting in person and networking is not possible, a good online presence is important. Make yourself visible online and ensure that your appearance matches the goals you pursue. Enrich your LinkedIn profile and make sure your work experience and – newly learned – skills are up to date. This way, other professionals know exactly for what expertise they can turn to you and connect with you. Are you missing a good profile picture? Be creative and create a setting at home with an even background, the right light, fast editing et voila!
Online coaching: In addition to developing skills, it is also smart to invest in your network by strengthening existing connections and making new connections. Perhaps you have a role model or admire someone who is successful in your field. Send him or her a message with an invitation for a digital cup of coffee. Or get inspired and join a community of colleagues or like-minded people. This can help you with your professional development and taking concrete career steps.
