I don’t like resolutions, but the end of the year is typically accompanied with reflection. As I enter 2018 and focus on making life changes, I find myself wanting to outline goals and objectives. Perhaps these are really resolutions, but if I find myself falling off track at any point I reserve the right to reassess and continue working toward my goals.
So, these are five things I want to do in my life that will help me to improve my skills and work toward career success.
1. Stay Organized. I believe I am an organized person and I seldom find myself behind schedule or missing deadlines. With that said, I know I have found myself in stressful situations that could have been avoided if I planned properly or addressed situations sooner. In an effort to stay organized, I want to address quick tasks in a timely fashion and dedicate specific blocks of time to tackling bigger projects. This way, I will not allow small tasks to accumulate into big time commitments. However, when I do have a bigger project, I will be able to focus on that one task for a dedicated block of time and reserve that time for the project.
2. Present More. I like presenting, it is one of my favorite things I am able to do in any job. However, I have found myself passing up opportunities to present because of the amount of time required for creating the presentation or because the presentation is held at a funny time. To be honest, those are just excuses, and I ought to embrace those opportunities so I can gain more experience presenting and so I have the opportunity to present to different audiences.
3. Have Materials Prepared. Whether it is application materials, information brochures, or business cards, not having the proper materials means I will need to find the correct materials when the situation arises. While some materials may be used less frequently than others, having the leave an interaction to obtain proper materials slows down that interaction and creates less personal interactions. Plus, being prepared will increase the level of confidence other people have in you. On the first day of each month, I should take a personal inventory to make sure I have all of the materials I anticipate using in interactions.
4. Ask More Questions. Regardless of how confident I am in my abilities to perform my job, new questions will arise. By asking others to help me find answers I am not only expanding my knowledge, I am also familiarizing myself with resources in the office. It’s not uncommon to ask a question and discover a colleague not only knows the answer but is very experienced with that type of question. Should similar questions arise in the future, I will know who can help in the future.
5. Be A Mentor & Find A Mentor. As I look for new roles and new opportunities to use my skills, it is important to connect with people in the appropriate fields. I am always excited by the opportunity to hear about someone’s journey, and it’s an added bonus if I am able to apply this knowledge to my job hunt.
Similarly, there may be someone who is looking to transition into a role in Higher Education or Financial Aid. Perhaps there is even someone considering a degree in Higher Education Administration. Any time I encounter those people I like to reach out and help them determine their next steps. In the upcoming months, I am excited to find more people who would like to hear my experiences and offer them so guidance as they embrace the next steps in their lives.
