Career Goals for Beginners at Work
Work can be overwhelming for newcomers fresh out of college. The environment is different, and the competition is high! To fully navigate the professional world, it is important to keep yourself focused and charged throughout the first few months and years of your work. Here are some simple tips which might help beginners at work in their career goals. If you have a mentor, consider taking their advice frequently if you stumble anywhere.
Find your calling
This is extremely important, especially when you are starting work. It can be easy to accept any job offer that offers a good first paycheck. However, in the long run, knowing if you are in the right field of work is important. If you follow your heart and work in an industry that interests you, you will be motivated to be at work every day and not feel burdened with tasks and goals. It is easy to feel burnt out if you spend 8 hours every day working in an environment that does not help your personal growth or inspire you professionally.
Develop some skills
Since you are just starting, embrace that you know less than some other experienced folks in the industry. Take this opportunity to learn skills, strategy, tactics, and soft skills to develop a wholesome personality that adds value to the workplace. Once you start working, you may realize that some technical skills might help you do a project better, so go ahead and do a certification course to hone your skills. Give yourself the freedom to learn and grow more each day.
Draw up a timeline
Many people get some work experience, dabble in different fields and then realize their true calling and potential. They wish to go back to school to specialize in a certain set of skills or fields. Give yourself a timeline to allow that. It can be anything – 2 years or more! Allow yourself to experience work and then decide if you would like to pursue a career and help you climb the career ladder more efficiently by acquiring particular education and skill.
Find your unique style
While you will be learning several things at once when you start out, it is also important to constantly work on making yourself unique or distinguishable in a field. Do not back down from challenges. Take small steps to make yourself heard and seen in a bunch of employees. It can be as simple as presenting an idea, taking the initiative, or presenting a report. These small steps make you seem eager to learn and grow in this environment.
Develop new work goals
Being a newbie at work makes it easy to get overwhelmed with the professional environment. You have experienced employees around you, and some may even dismiss your ideas. The initial few weeks or months are important to observe and learn from those around you. Give yourself some short-term and long-term goals. These can look like – For the next meeting, I will be prepared with some ideas to present, or I will ask to work on this presentation with my boss. These small goals will help you feel like you are contributing to the team efforts and not feel secluded. However, always observe your work environment and culture and notice if you are comfortable. If not, allow yourself the freedom to choose a healthier workplace.
Aligning personal and professional goals
This is very important, especially in a time like this where it is important to find a good work-life balance. Question and ask yourself if your work also aligns with your growth plans. You may be doing exceptionally well at work, but do they recognize your efforts? Do you see any growth opportunities? Will you be compensated fairly? All these align with your personal goals as well, like if you want a better lifestyle, if you are thinking about having a family and need a workplace that is flexible and non-toxic. These are important things to consider.