5 Career Personas... What Career Stage Are You In

5 Career Personas... What Career Stage Are You In 5 Career Personas What Career Stage Are You In?Posted April 1, 2019, by EleshaWhat career persona are you? Whether youve just landed your first job, returning to work after a sabbatical, ready to step into leadership or somewhere in between, were all at different stages in our journey.Lets take a look at 5 different career personas, success tips for each one and see where you may sit.Career Starter Youre brand new to the workforce, a graduate or leise trying to land your very first job. Getting started in your career is an exciting and important timeEvery successful person started out somewhere. The job you begin with might not be your lifelong career but the key is to get your break into the workforce and maximise every opportunity in your early roles.Create Your Career Action PlanIf youre a career starter, its a smart idea to set some mid-term (3-6 month) and long-term (6-18 month) professional goals for yourself. These goals form y our career action plan and are a key part of successful career progression. Remember, for each goal you should come up with the steps you need to take to get you there, including relevant professional development. If you dont know where to get started on your career action plan, reach out to a career counsellor for guidance.Get Your Resume Sorted Weve got a few tips for making writing your first resume less daunting Highlight any experience youve had in volunteer roles, internships or clubs and the skills you learnt that will apply to the workforce. Check out resume and cover letter templates for inspiration and where possible, incorporate the keywords and phrases into your resume from job ads youre interested in.Landed The Job? Take On New OpportunitiesCongrats Youve landed your first job Squeeze all the experience out of the role you can by raising your hand to volunteer for any opportunity that comes up. Get involved in that new project, attend those seminars, meet new people and get involved in extracurricular activities with your team. New challenges will open doors to areas of the industry you might not have realised existed.Career UpskillerAfter working in your industry for a couple of years, youve decided its the right career path for you and now youre keen to get some formal qualifications.Upskilling is the smart way to take your career up a notch, prevent a career plateau and make a good impression with your employer. Upskilling shows youre dedicated to moving forward in your industry and create the stepping stones to take you to the next level.If the upskiller career persona sounds like you, here are a few tips for getting ahead.Invest In Your Professional DevelopmentFormal qualifications to boost your experience and CV credibility.Investing in your professional development doesnt always mean youll need to foot the bill yourself. Heres how to ask your boss to pay for your course or you can research government study loans you may be eligible for.Know Your NicheSuccessful upskilling isnt just about completing any old course or padding your CV with training workshops. Identify the right type of professional development for you and get clear on how it fits with your career goals. Check out job descriptions in your industry for the type of role youre aiming for and note the qualifications employers are seeking.Based on the Australian Qualifications Framework there are 10 qualification levels from Certificate I (Level 1) through to a Doctoral Degree (Level 10).Choose The Right Study ModeProfessional development, whether its a one day workshop or anMBA, is a commitment of time and money so you want to make sure you choose not only the right course but the right study mode too.An online course is great if you need to fit study in around a busy schedule but you need a fair amount of self-discipline to keep yourself on track when youre managing your own study time. Maybe interactive learning is mora your style, engaging with your fellow students and the instructor about course material. This type of learning includes workshops, face to face courses and seminars.Career ShifterChange is in the air. The shift isnt just about a new job at a different company youre ready to embark on a totally new career in a completely different industry.A bold, exciting moveIf you feel like your career persona is a career shifter, there are a few ways you can make the transition to your new industry as smooth as possible.Get Help From A Career CoachA great career coach can help you navigate the steps to take you from where you are now to where you want to be.Your career coach will come up with new perspectives in relation to your career which you might not have considered. Theyll help you identify your strengths, training you may need to open up new opportunities and your transferrable skills.Identify Transferable Skills Transferable skills are the skills and knowledge youve acquired through your current role that can be applied to v arious jobs across different industries. The key to shifting industries is to get clear on the transferable skills you have to offer. This provides a good starting point for your job search and determining your suitability for the new industry youre interested in. Keep An Eye On The Job MarketYoure up for a change but youre not quite sure where youre headed next. Taking the leap from office management to HR seems like a smart move, but youve always thought event management could be your thing too. Check out job boards for vacancies in the industries youre considering. Are there particular roles that seem to be in demand? How might your current skill set fit the requirements of these stelles? If your career persona is a Career Shifter, craft a few versions of your current CV to fit these position descriptions with your transferable skills using the same keywords in the job ad.Career Accelerator Moving on up. Its your time to shine and youve set a goal to step up into a leadership rol e. Youve got mora than five years experience under your belt and feel committed to your organisation. Even if you feel ready, transitioning to a management role might not be as easy as you think so its time to get your strategy in place to accelerate your career. Talk To Your BossYou might be excited to take the next step but does your boss know about your leadership ambitions? Book in time to have a chat about your career goal to advance and ask for feedback on how your plans might align with the organisational structure. Ask them for input and put their advice into practice. Act Like A Leader Now your boss knows about your ambitions, volunteer to head up smaller projects or take on some managerial tasks. Putting your hand up for more responsibility and doing what it takes to get things done is the best way to demonstrate your commitment and put yourself in line for a management position. Find A Mentor Dont underestimate the role a great mentor can play in your career success. A me ntor is someone who has already reached the leadership roles youve got your eye on and can teach you a lot about the skills and mindset it takes to get there.A real mentor will provide you with honest feedback about the skills you need to hone and suggest management training courses to make your mark in a leadership role.Career ReturnerCareer breaks. Sometimes theyre carefully planned like maternity leave or a travel sabbatical but other times they come unexpectedly, like taking time out to care for a sick loved one. This career persona is all about getting back into the workforce after months or even years. You might be feeling a little overwhelmed about getting back into it and feel like your skills may have become a little dusty in your time away from the workforce. Dont panic, landing a dream role after a career break is totally possible.Take A Refresher CourseIf youre worried your skills arent up to date, dive in a take a refresher course to put you back on top. Social media, f or example, moves at lightning speed so if youre a marketing manager whos returning to work after a few years, you may want to brush up on your digital marketing knowledge. It freshens up your CV, shows vermgen employers youre invested in your professional development and of course, will give your confidence a great boost knowing youve got your groove back.Work On Your Online Presence LinkedIn provides a wealth of virtual networking opportunities to reach out to both old and new contacts and let them know youre open to new opportunities. If your career persona is a career returner, spend some time updating both your LinkedIn profile and CV. Be sure to account for the period youve been away from the workforce but keep it concise.Get Over Interview NervesInterviews can be nerve-racking. Especially if you havent had one in years. When you do land the interview, get super prepared before the date. Spend time on the company website, write down at least 3 questions to ask, role play inter view questions and answers... the list goes on.What Is Your Career Persona?Which career persona do you identify most with? No matter where your are on your career journey, weve got the right tips, resources and expert advice to help you get to where you want to be. 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