Four Tips to Staying Relevant to Your Work
When you deal with a hectic schedule and a busy day, it's easy to get caught
up in the tasks that need to be completed. Every once and awhile, it's good
to take a step back and evaluate where you are headed and if you need to
shift your course. Here are four ways to gauge where you are in your career
and if there are steps you can take to make improvements:
- Take an honest look at your worth. Once a year, evaluate your competence
and skills. If they don't match what's in demand in the market, determine
how and where you need to improve. Use your performance evaluations to help
direct you.
- Stay on top of technical skills. Make sure you're competent on basic
applications and have a command of available technology (the Internet and
communication devices, to name a few) to make you more efficient. Stay
abreast of technological change by reading relevant publications.
- Make skills upgrading a priority. That means accepting lifelong learning
as a principle. Take classes online, go back to school, attend a SOCAP
International conference or take continuing education classes that are
applicable to your job -- or the one you want.
- Interview your boss. Make sure you know where the company is heading and
whether your goals and the company's goals are in sync.
