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How to find your next job opportunity

To find your next job opportunity and progress your career it takes 3 important steps starting with goal setting followed by action plans through prioritising and finally furthering your options to create your next job opportunity.

Step 1: Set SMART goals

Goal setting will keep you focused and motivated. It can help reduce stress levels, increase your confidence, creates a foreseeable path to aim for and helps you achieve your career ambitions.

Set SMART goals to become one step closer to reaching the opportunity you have been waiting for.  SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Rewarding and Timely:

Specific - A specific goal has a much greater chance of being accomplished than a general goal. To set a specific goal you must answer the six "W" questions:

Who:Who is involved?
What:What do I want to accomplish?
Where:Identify a location.
When:Establish a time frame.
Which:Identify requirements and constraints.
Why:Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal.

Measurable - Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal you set. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort required to reach your goal.

Attainable - You can attain almost any goal you set when you plan your steps wisely and establish a time frame that allows you to carry out those steps. Goals that may have seemed far away and out of reach eventually move closer and become attainable, not because your goals shrink, but because you grow and expand to match them. When you list your goals you build your self-image. You see yourself as worthy of these goals, and develop the traits and personality that allow you to possess them.

Realistic - Your goal is probably realistic if you truly believe that it can be accomplished.

Timely - A goal should be grounded within a time frame. With no time frame tied to it there's no sense of urgency.

Separate your goals into short and long term

It is important to separate your short and long term goals to ensure they are manageable and time specific. Your short term goals are achievable within a short time period and must take into consideration all areas of your life including family, relationships, education, finance, social, spiritual or health factors. Short term goals will help you move closer towards achieving your long term goals, where as long term goals are ultimately what you want in life.

Step 2: Prioritisation and action plans

Once the goals have been committed to paper, the next step is to prioritise them and be realistic about the steps that you are willing to take. Consequence is a factor in determining what goals are top priorities and what can be left until a later time. The most important goals are the ones that must be done almost immediately as the consequence for not doing them may lead to missing opportunities. As you move down your list of prioritised goals you should notice that these goals do not suffer significant consequences if not accomplished and as time goes by the easier they are to achieve.

Break down into monthly, weekly and daily targets

All goals should be assigned a deadline. The deadline for each goal needs to be time specific and realistic. After this is done, you can start taking action. In order to do this, each goal should be broken down into monthly, weekly and daily targets. An action plan needs to be formed for each goal. In other words, what steps are to be taken to accomplish it? Follow each step through to the end, until you achieve your goal.

As you power your way through each goal, you will find that your confidence has increased and determination to reach the end result, the desired result, will take into effect. And be sure to monitor your goals and revise them as your circumstances change.

Step 3: Further options and opportunities

In order to get take the next step on your ambitious career ladder, be open to various options and be flexible. Look into taking on a new apprenticeship or traineeship.  Sell yourself to potential employers and seek advice from people already in the industry. Keep a note of all your contacts while you are networking as they may be of assistance in the future. Another option to consider is voluntary work. This may be a great way to get your foot in the door. There are numerous reasons to participate in voluntary work as it gives you the opportunity to:

  • Take your first step in the right direction and get your foot in the door to your desired job
  • Gain an insight on your career choice
  • Increase skills, knowledge and experience that can be included in your resume
  • Find new referees and contacts
  • Be offered a permanent role within the organisation
  • Build your confidence within the workplace.

Remember it’s the journey that takes us to our destination. Take responsibility and be accountable for the choices you make. For more career support or information please Contact us.

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