You can rely on your luck to succeed in life, but it is best to have a strategy. A city like London offers plenty of job opportunities. The possibilities for career development are countless as well. All you need to do is have a plan. The best way to advance is to have ambitious yet sensible career planning. You should come up with the strategy as early as possible in your adult life, but it is never too late to take your future in your own hands.
The first stage of your career planning should involve an honest assessment of your qualifications and skills. You should be able to find a type of job that corresponds to these. In this way you can build a successful career later on. It might not be easy for you to find the right position at first, but you can readily focus your interest on a certain industry. When choosing a type of job or an economic sector, you have to take into account your interests as well. It is not mandatory, but it is best for any person to like and enjoy their work.
We are used to the idea that employers choose us. You should not hesitate to select your employer as well. It is always a good idea to seize job opportunities, but it is best if these correspond to your career plan. The position has to match your qualifications and skills. More importantly, it should give you the opportunity to learn and to climb the career ladder. The company should also create incentives for their employees to perform better and to take positions with great responsibilities. Despite the common misconception, it is not easier to advance in your career by working in a large company. If you work for a smaller organization, you have higher chances of getting noticed and advancing to higher positions.
Once you are on the job, you will have a better idea of the relations in the company and of your career prospects. Now it is time to set goals. Decide where you want to be in one or two years – you might want to have a higher salary, a higher position or transfer to another job or company. Set a long term goal as well. Where do you want to be in 5 years? As said earlier, your goals have to be ambitious as well as realistic.
The next and most important question is how to achieve the career goals that you have set. You have to plan this carefully. Make sure you perform excellently at work. Show that you are devoted to your work. Do not hesitate to take credit for your performance. More importantly, you have to stand out by taking more responsibilities, showing leadership skills and contributing with ideas. You should also think of other job-specific ways to accomplish your goals.
Monitoring and re-evaluating your career plan is essential. You have to make sure that you are on track. You also need to check whether your goals have not changed. Generally, you have to be flexible when planning. It is a good idea to evaluate your accomplishments and goals every six months.