1. Get to know yourself
Having a thorough understanding of your strengths, interests, values and personality is vital for choosing the right career path. There are many ways of developing this kind of self awareness. Try asking family or friends to help you identify your talents - you may be surprised at what they come up with. Or do an objective psychological test like the Myers-Briggs Inventory Report or the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. Try our popular personality quizzes to help identify your weak/strong points.
2. Keep your options open
Keep an open mind, because your dream job could be where you least expect it. If you are attracted by a particular industry or organisation, it's easy to find out more by exploring the relevant websites.
3. Be ready for change
Change is here to stay, whether we like it or not. We're foolish if we get angry about it or try to ignore its signs: successful people use change for their own ends, instead of just reacting to it. Below is a list of seven principles which should guide your behaviour in coping with change:
Always look at the positive things you will gain
Focus on the tasks you face now, not on how things might turn out in the future
Be prepared to make things happen
Use the energy that comes from your feelings to positive effect
Deal with the true facts, rather than myths or assumptions
Avoid tunnel vision, be creative and look for alternatives
Take personal responsibility for updating your skills
Pay attention to your positive qualities, rather than any limitations you may have
4. Believe in yourself
You can't go after what you want if you don't really believe in your ability to achieve it. Most of us have a mixture of self beliefs, some of which are positive and 'empowering', while others are negative and 'disempowering'. It may be that you have low self-image at work, but you might also might see yourself as being good at a sport or hobby. The trick is to replace any negative beliefs that stop you getting where you want to go with positive beliefs that will help you to reach your goals.
5. Learn from your mistakes
When you attempt something and it goes wrong, you may feel hurt, angry or just plain embarrassed. But don't be discouraged – try to turn the failure into success by viewing the incident as a chance to learn. Analyse the events and the behaviour that led to the failure and try to see what you could have done differently. How can you make sure it doesn't happen again? If it really was your fault, it is important to take responsibility and not blame others. Above all, remember that you are only a 'failure' if you quit when things go wrong. When things don't work out as you planned, what happens is neither good or nor bad, but merely information that will help you improve your plan next time around.
6. Manage your time
Time is a valuable resource and the way you use it can be a vital part of your strategy for a more fulfilling career. Try some of these simple techniques.
Set aside some time each day to review progress and plan your next steps
Keep a clear desk - this will create a calm, clear space in your mind
Make better use of 'down' time to do routine jobs or read professional journals
Saying no - try to do this with a helpful suggestion and a reason
Chunking down and chunking up - break big projects into small tasks and deal with small tasks in batches
Trapped in the web - decide how long you are going to spend browsing and stick to it
7. Check your look
Your clothes are a vital part of your image, so think carefully about what they say about you. The key word here is appropriate – are they the right clothes for this company, for this job and for you? Do they represent the right mix of creativity and formality? It's not just the style of clothes that is important, your choice and mix of colours also sends powerful messages. Remember that how you are perceived is up to you. Ask a friend what impression you make with your clothes, general appearance and body language and then work to alter the outward signals you're not happy with. You will be surprised at how much you can say about yourself without speaking a single word! Find out how to look good on our fashion pages.
8. Create a brilliant CV
Your CV should demonstrate that you understand exactly what the employer is looking for and how you match the criteria they have set. Always think about what you are writing from the point of view of the reader.
Keep it short: make a positive impression and to leave them wanting more
Stand out from the crowd: develop your own style and use colour sparingly
Choose the right format: a 'chronological' CV emphasises the way that your career has developed progressively. A 'functional' CV presents the transferable skills that you have picked up in different roles
Select the right words: always choose strong, active verbs like ' arranged, 'designed' and 'prevented'
Include brief details: write briefly on personal details, education, training courses, employment, interests and references
Don't include things like your age, marital status, children, weight, place of birth, state of health and national insurance number
Keep it simple and professional: use clear headings, arrange the text in neat blocks, leave wide margins and plenty of white space
9. Develop your negotiation skills
Effective negotiation skills are some of the most useful assets you can acquire – whether you are already in a suitable job or looking for a new one. To achieve a fair and reasonable reward package, you will need to know your own market worth, be persistent and be flexible. If you find it difficult to negotiate, ask a friend to help you role play the scene until you feel more comfortable. Failing to negotiate a fair salary can be very expensive. You could lose many thousands of pounds over a lifetime. If your employer is unable to grant your request, there may be other ways of achieving a satisfactory deal. You could suggest anything from a company car or a private health scheme to an annual bonus or a share option.
10. Build effective relationships
In a successful relationship:
People listen to each other. Listening leads to understanding: if you understand someone else, you know what to do to work better together
People openly express their needs. By doing this you are more likely to get what you want, rather than wait for someone to guess
People treat each other with respect. Respect means that you value the other person for what they are; you respect their uniqueness and their individuality. The development of open, honest, caring relationships with colleagues, managers or customers will make your work more enjoyable and enhance the quality of your output.
