Kickstart Your Career with these 3 Tips

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If you are anything like the millions of other U.S. workers, chances are you want to perform well at work, be successful, and advance your career.  Whether it’s taking college courses online, listening to webinars in your industry, or going to a conference, there are always opportunities available to grow your knowledge.  Below are three key ingredients, we at RealStreet Staffing believe are vital in advancing within the construction and engineering industries.

  1. Review your plan.
    Have you been so focused on your job that you haven’t even thought about your career goals in months?  It’s important to take a step back every two to three months and assess where you are: How has your job changed over the last few months?  When was the last time you got a raise? Do you even like what you’re doing?  If you don’t look at the bigger picture, you could find yourself working a dead end job you don’t enjoy, with colleagues you can’t stand, and a manager that you don’t like.Spend some time this month reviewing your career plan.  If you find you’re ready to advance your career in a different direction, prepare for a change.  Update your resume, create a stronger web presence, and go on informational interview to learn about other opportunities.  Then, when the busy month of September roles around, you’ll be ready to make your next move.
  2. Expand your skills.
    After a long, hot day at work, it’s tempting to go home, sit on the couch, and flip on the television.  However, if you’re ready to take the next step in advancing your career, save the Netflix binge watching for another time.  Instead, allocate this time to taking classes and updating your skill set. If you feel like formal higher education classes are in your future, sign up for at GRE or GMAT and start preparing for the test.  If you’re looking for more informal training, check out local chapters of business organizations in your industry and see what seminars and training they offer.  Sign up for webinars, which are a great way to expand your knowledge without ever having to leave your home.The knowledge gained from additional training and seminars will give you an advantage over other employees that aren’t proactive in expanding their skill set.  Managers will take notice of the extra effort you’re putting in to advance your career, and you’ll be the first person that comes to mind when they are ready to promote staff.
  3. Network, network, network.
    Seriously. You’ve heard it over and over, but we can’t say it enough.  They key to advancing your career in today’s job market is all about who you know.  You have to put effort in expanding your realm of business connections in order to succeed.  Even during the dog days of August, you should continuously be looking for the opportunities to meet new people, make new connections, and build and nurture existing relationships.  Don’t wait until you’re stuffed into a crowded session at a technology conference in March.  Summer is the perfect time to strike up a conversation while waiting in line at the water slide or grilling by the pool.  You never know where the next connection or conversation will lead.

Advancing your career doesn’t have to be a chore.  With a little effort spent revamping your resume, learning necessary skills, and meeting new people, you will be climbing the ladder in no time!

If you have been on the job hunt for a while and still haven’t had any luck furthering your career, let the knowledgeable recruiters at RealStreet Staffing help.  At Realstreet, we match experienced construction professionals with rewarding career opportunities in the Federal, architectural, engineering and construction communities. We know the market. We know the decision makers. We have the contacts, resources and experience to help you build a better career.  Contact us today and you could be starting an exciting new career in no time.

RealStreet has been an excellent partner in understanding our programs’ unique staffing requirements-skills, experience, clearances, seasonality—and consistently provides qualified and highly productive team members who are often recognized by our customers for their performance.

Cheryll Bissell

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