Revamp Your Career Life! [2 of 3]

In last post we were discussing about ways to counter your boredom in career, which commonly happen if you’ve stayed in an organization too long. What are we discussing here is all about change, change your mindset, change your attitude, revamp your career life. Sometimes we just can’t rely on others to help, especially our boss.

There’re many ways to get you out of the trap of boredom and the feeling of unproductive. Here we have another two good suggestions.

Pick up a new skill

Even if you have been working on the same job function for more than two years, take the initiative to pick up another skill that may be useful to your current job. For example, journalists can pick photography to get involve in photojournalism and know that you don’t have to get formal training because a lot of skills can be acquired on the job.

Mr. Chong, a manager for an event management company relates, “Jenny my PR writer approached me saying that she has been taking some informal photography lessons and would like to try taking our company’s event pictures. I was skeptical at the beginning but I was thrilled that she has taken the initiative all the same. I tried her out and in just three weeks, she has improved so much that we don’t need to hire an outside photographer anymore.

She’s happy because of the raise and most importantly she gets to expand her interest in her current job. I ended up hiring a junior but I am happy because it’s more efficient and cost effective for Jenny to be both the senior writer and the photographer. “So, be proactive and look out for skills that you both enjoy and are helpful in career advancement. It could be as simple as learning a new software or a foreign language.

You will be amazed how a new skill like that can propel you to greater heights at work. The French lessons you took for fun might lead you to temporary correspondent in Paris for your organization!

Finding a mentor

Tula Karras a writer for the international website, iVillage’s Resource Center advices in her article entitled, “8 ways to love the job you have” to, “Identify a staff you respect and can learn a lot from, even if their job duties are not the same as yours.

The mentor-protégé relationship can have an incredibly fulfilling bond. A good mentor will do more than stroke your ego; the individual will help you look critically at your goals and how to achieve them. Remember, a mentor doesn’t have to be doing a job you want; it’s how they are doing their job that matters. Just choose someone who is succeeding and happy with their role in the organization and you will be fine.

“Having someone you look up to will give you a morale boost and that individuals’ advices and wisdom will keep you motivated and head on the right direction.”

Before we come to an end for this series, you’re welcomed on any other suggestions.

Article source: Jusco Pearl, page 42-43, Issue 37, July 2007.
Picture source: Internet