10 Things You Can Do To Elevate Your Career
Taking the next step in our career doesn’t have to be a once-in-awhile thing. It’s usually those small steps that we take daily that make the biggest impact and reap the largest rewards.
Add Value. In your current role, there is likely a ton of work to do and maybe not enough people for the jobs. Are there any parts of your job that you are particularly good at or is there a gap at your institution that you can fill? So take on a medication safety project, put a proposal for a utilization switch that will save the institution money and be better for patients or mentor one of the new practitioners or students. Taking the initiative to head up a project will not only set you apart, it adds value to your work environment and will set you up for job advancement later.
Design Your Environment. Being organized doesn’t have to be one-size-fits-all. Just like we all have different career goals and definitions of success. Even organization looks a little different to everyone! Now, I’m not saying embrace your organized chaos, but I am saying that being a little more organized will not only make you more efficient, it will make your mind clearer as your take steps toward your next career move. I find that as I get busier, I get messier. For me, taking the time to have a filing system and making sure every paper has a place, keeps me focused and helps save time when I’m looking for something!
Reach out to people! You don’t have to be actively looking for a job to do this. It’s a good way to build connections! And if you’re shy? An easy way is to start with someone familiar. Reach out to a former classmate that may be doing something interesting or something that you’d like to know more about add. I’ve always underestimated the Linkedin platform, but for career development and distinguishment, it’s becoming a great place to build a platform.
Start a passion project. I talk more about this in my ebook, but having a hobby or project that you really dive into creates space in your life for other interests and opportunities. When you feel fulfilled in one area, it often bleeds over into other areas of your life. And having a richer, more diversified life will also grow your resilience at your current job so that every little bump or setback doesn’t rock you to your core.
Get interview ready. When we finally venture out and either realize that our current job isn’t working or just that we need a big change in general, it’s easy to apply to everything that comes our way and just rest on our past experiences in our interview. Selling yourself is an art and it doesn’t have to be a dirty word. But, you do need to prep a little either by getting your resume ready or learning how to interview, get clear about your goals and set yourself apart in a competitive marketplace.
Grow. When I was ready to take the next step in my career but didn’t quite know what to do, I talked to my manager and he signed me up for ASHP’s Pharmacy Leadership Academy. Great idea. Not only did I learn A LOT, I met many emerging leaders in the industry and that investment into myself was what really pushed me forward and got the momentum going for new opportunities. Many organizations have some type of development or leaders program.
Read. Along the lines of growing, invest in yourself daily by reading or listening to a podcast. And I’m not talking about studying pharmacology! You can pick a topic that interests you and go from there - research your passion project, read mystery novels, or just learn about someone else’s perspective. It will open your world up to other opportunities.
Develop your people skills. Navigating relationships may be undervalued now that we can use technology for everything. We don’t even have to talk to someone to set up a service or have food delivered! This may get us in trouble, though, if we have to negotiate something, or delicately get a point across. So learn to listen to what people are REALLY saying, be interested in other people’s stories, and do a little exploring on your own. This also means you should look for win-win situations rather than thriving on competitiveness and leaving your opponent bleeding in the dust. A communication course online or reading a book like Crucial Conversations will only add value to your professional brand.
Your health is your wealth. You may have all the ambition in the world, but if you are not taking care of yourself, you won’t have the energy to keep up in a competitive marketplace or dive into that next big project! Set aside time daily for exercise (early morning or right after work!), make nutritious food choices, and make sure you aren’t taking your work or phone to bed with you! And along the lines of nutrition, let others do the work for you! It doesn’t have to be an exhaustive process. Signing up for a meal delivery plan or adopting a cookbook or program (Whole 30!) actually can make the work a lot easier because other people are making the decisions for you.
Blaze your trail. Ultimately, career success comes in many forms. Don’t be afraid to look at yourself and your goals and write a definition that makes sense for YOU. Check out my free ebook here for more information on this topic!