We’re reaching the halfway mark on the year, and while the COVID-19 pandemic may have stymied your efforts to seek new employment or a promotion, that certainly isn’t always the case. The summer months, which signify the mid-point for 2020, is a good time to take stock of the goals you set for the New Year. What is your progress on those goals? What revisions need to happen, based on the economic downturn that many of us have experienced? It’s time to reassess your priorities and goals and get ready for the second half of the year. Here’s what you need to know to make it happen.
Career Progress Assessment
You can start this process by evaluating where your career path is right now. Measuring your current state, career-wise, against where you want to go will help determine what adjustments you’ll need to reach your goals. For example:
- If your goal was to pay down some of your student loans how far have you come? How much is the balance? Look at your bank statements to see where you spent extra and how much of that could have applied to your debt. Map the next six months to create a plan for paying extra on your student loan. If you stay on track, how much closer to debt-free will you be?
- Was your goal to get a bump in pay or a promotion? How has your company changed since that goal was formed? Has the pandemic affected that goal and should it be reassessed? How have you made yourself indispensable to your employer? In light of the current situation, how should your goal redefine itself for the fall and winter?
- If you’re searching for a new job, how many applications have you sent out? Have you established relationships with technology recruiters who can help you achieve a new position? Try to set a goal for the applications process of so many per day, week, or month, and then track your progress. If you feel like your resume isn’t getting you the traction you want, talk to a Blackstone recruiter for confidential and free advice on how to tweak it to show up on more employer searches.
Look closely at the specific techniques you’re using to reach any of these goals. How proactive and aggressive are you in pursuing them. If your career goal was to save enough money to relocate, how have you cut your budget to put more money away? The COVID-19 lockdown may have inadvertently helped you with the goal of saving money; you were pursuing a bigger raise; how did you take on more responsibilities for your employer? Did you learn any new skills this year? What skills will you need to get to the promotion that you’ve got your eye on? What about that student loan? What did you do to increase payments and cut debt?
At the end of this process, you should have a progress report on the status of your initial goal-setting and a better sense of what you can achieve in the second part of the year.
Setting goals remains important for your career. Blackstone Talent Group is here to help you meet your goals. If you’re unhappy with your goal of finding a new job, maybe it’s time to talk to our team. We can help.