Looking to progress your career but not sure how to take that next step? If the job hunt is going slowly or you’re hoping to qualify for a promotion, there are ways to increase your confidence and your value to employers. Here’s how to improve your career prospects in seven easy steps.
Have a plan
The first step to improve your career prospects is to identify your career goals. What’s your dream charity job? And what skills and experience does it require? Once you know what you’re aiming for, you can plan how to get there.
If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at our career guides. Simply find the job you’re interested in and we show you example career paths and person specifications.
Now you can audit your current skills and experience and identify any gaps. Learn more about your strengths and weaknesses by asking for feedback from your line manager and colleagues. This information will help you know which areas to focus your attention on.
Learning and development
Find out what training your organisation offers. Many HR platforms have inbuilt e-learning courses. Your employer may also be able to provide budget for external training―ask your manager what might be possible. It’s best to approach them with a clear idea of what you’re looking for and how it’ll benefit your role.
Have a look at what’s available online, too. Check out the courses available on CharityJob. Categories include how to develop a specific skill, learn to run and govern a charity, and learn to promote and fund a charity. And Google has a wide range of free courses in topics ranging from skills to software.
Networking
A charity network connects you with the industry and helps inspire professional growth. It helps to build long-term relationships with other charity professionals—you never know when you might need someone’s assistance. And when it comes to taking that next career step, it doesn’t hurt to know a few people in high places!
CharityConnect is an ideal first port of call. It’s an online network of over 17,000 charity professionals where you can meet like-minded people in the sector and find support in your role. It’s also a good idea to have an up-to-date LinkedIn profile if you don’t already.
Read our guide to networking in the charity sector.
Find a mentor
They say you should learn from your mistakes, but it’s even better if you can learn from someone else’s! As a mentee, you have a unique opportunity to benefit from the expert advice and experience of someone more senior. They can act as a sounding board for your work problems or to bounce ideas around. You have someone to advocate for you, to help you focus your goals and support you to achieve them (and to be accountable to!). This can help to progress your career in many different ways.
Read more about the benefits of mentoring.
Find a coach
For more in-depth guidance, you could consider consulting a career change coach. Yes, they can be pricey, but you spend around 90,000 hours of your life at work. So it can be worth it to make sure you’re 100% happy and comfortable in your chosen career. Or why not check out coachmefree.com for some free coaching?
Make sure your CV is up to date
The key to a successful job search is a flawless, well-written and highly targeted charity CV. After all, it’s your first chance to grab the recruiter’s attention and secure an interview. You’ll have to update your CV every now and again to add new information, apply to new organisations and simply stay competitive.
Some people like to update their CV every time they get a promotion or have a new achievement to add. Others prefer to keep an up-to-date document or folder listing all their successes and achievements. This can then be used to update a CV once you’re back in the job market again.
Whichever method you choose, make sure to keep track of your main achievements in your current and previous roles, and back these up with as many facts and figures as you can.
Read our ultimate guide to writing a charity CV.
Develop your soft skills
Knowledge, expertise and qualifications have their place. But ‘soft’ skills are equally important, for both your professional and personal development. Examples of soft skills include communication, problem solving, leadership, empathy, flexibility, teamwork and organisation.
Recruiters want to see evidence of soft skills because it shows them your work ethic and how you’ll fit into their team. Two CVs might have the same qualifications on paper, but it’s soft skills that’ll get you through the door.
Find out how to develop your soft skills.
Put these tips to good use and you’ll improve your career prospects in no time! Ready to see what’s out there? Browse current opportunities.
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