Enhance your career in your spare time
We’ve all had them. ‘Slow days’ when you’re not sure what to do. Maybe you’ve hit all your deadlines for the week, are job-hunting, between college terms or just wondering what to do next? Spare moments like these should be seized. They are the ideal opportunity to focus on your career goals. So grab a cuppa, sit back and start pondering these 10 tips on how to enhance your career prospects.
1 Who do you know?
When did you last look at your address book, detox your inbox or scroll through your Facebook contacts? Most people have friends, acquaintances and even relatives we’ve forgotten about but they could be just the people you need to know now!
It’s not easy being the first to revive lost relationships but once you get started, it no longer feels awkward. Be bold. Drop them a quick email or phone call to say hello. Tell them what you’ve been doing and what you’re currently up to. Ask them the same questions. There may be someone in your extended network who can give you some advice, introduce you to a useful contact or even give you paid work! You may find you’re doing something similar to each other and perhaps there’s some scope to do some collaborative working?
2 Make new friends
Whether this involves joining a drama club or networking group, you never know who you may meet. Bhavin joined a business breakfast circle for six months. He left after he realised he hated the 7am starts, but he’s stayed in touch with the people he connected with the most. “The concept of business networking is that you have a group of people and you agree to pass opportunities onto each other. Everyone in the group can offer a different skill which means there’s no conflict. Being an artist I found I didn’t have much to offer the lawyer and banker in the group but actually when we meet up now and go for a coffee, we bounce ideas of each other and that’s really useful.”
3 Be a student
You don’t need to enrol on a degree. Short, one day or weekend classes can top up your skills and turn you into an expert. Think about what you are most passionate about in your work and become the expert in this area. Immerse yourself in it. Read books, articles, research online and start offering your own advice on the subject. In a work scenario, topping up your skills can gain quicker promotions or pay rises, or if you’re looking for a job, having a specific area of expertise can lead to a higher starting salary.
4 Get published
We all have opinions; get into the habit of writing them down. Not everyone has the time and patience to write a blog, and if the blogosphere doesn’t appeal to you there are still other ways to get your name in circulation. Contributing your expert knowledge to “Wiki” pages is a good way to start. It gets you into the habit of writing succinctly and ensuring your facts have been researched. If you want to aim for print, there are a few ways you can start to create a presence.
Rachael has worked in the city for five years but her passion lies in writing women’s lifestyle features. She sent a “reader column” into a free evening paper and when it was published, she got hooked. “I never thought I’d be a writer but having one column published has given me the confidence to do more. I’m now studying writing. I’m not giving up my day job, but I do want to see my name in print more!”
Once you’ve been published, your next step is to ensure your achievement is recorded on your CV. Future employers are always impressed by published work, whatever field you’re in.
5 Volunteer
Aim for a role that interests you that is related to your job or career. Work experience and interns are the first to hear about new internal vacancies or opportunities that arise. Introduce yourself to as many people as possible and tell them your skills and interests. Making one good impression is all it takes to stick in someone’s mind. Marsha landed a fashion column in her local newspaper for two years after spending just one week doing work experience there. “I was bored so I wrote something I was interested in, walked into the editor’s office and pitched my idea. I didn’t get paid for it, but it helped me gain credibility as a fashionista.”
6 Work shadow
Who do you really admire? Identify someone who has the job you want and approach them directly. Tell them why you think they are great and how spending a day with them will help you achieve your own goals. Take the opportunity to ask as many questions as you can to find out how they got to where they are and get some advice on your own situation.
7 De-clutter
Sometimes it seems like life is too short to clear a messy desk, but throwing away unnecessary clutter is always time well spent. If the boss is away, go through your drawers or shelves and dump the papers you hardly ever use. If you work at home or have a studio, use spare moments when you’re between tasks to ensure your workspace remains clear and organised. You may rediscover things you forgot you had, and tidy spaces are more conducive to work.
8 Doodle and brainstorm
Nothing beats a spot of doodling when you’ve got a few idle minutes. Taking time out to sit down and properly plan your career path is useful but not always productive. If you carry around a notebook and jot down ideas and inspirations as they enter your head, you’re more likely to do them. Set yourself small goals to achieve with deadlines, preferably ones you can achieve each week so it feels like you’re getting ahead. This may be as small as making that phone call to ask someone if you can shadow them or as big as booking an evening class.
9 Do something radical
Do something completely unconnected to your career. When it comes to achievements, both personal and professional, confidence is vital. Once you get more confident in your everyday life, you’ll see the effects on your career. Confident people are more likely to take risks or ask for things. Start with achieving small things and the more you do, the more your natural confidence will shine through.
10 Relax and go on holiday
Not all your spare time should be spent on career planning! For some people, the best ideas strike when their mind is on something completely different. Emptying your head from daily chores and stresses does wonders for a person, even if it’s just one night away camping. So take a break, get inspired and come back refreshed and ready to tick off some of your ‘to do’ list.
1 Who do you know?
When did you last look at your address book, detox your inbox or scroll through your Facebook contacts? Most people have friends, acquaintances and even relatives we’ve forgotten about but they could be just the people you need to know now!
It’s not easy being the first to revive lost relationships but once you get started, it no longer feels awkward. Be bold. Drop them a quick email or phone call to say hello. Tell them what you’ve been doing and what you’re currently up to. Ask them the same questions. There may be someone in your extended network who can give you some advice, introduce you to a useful contact or even give you paid work! You may find you’re doing something similar to each other and perhaps there’s some scope to do some collaborative working?
2 Make new friends
Whether this involves joining a drama club or networking group, you never know who you may meet. Bhavin joined a business breakfast circle for six months. He left after he realised he hated the 7am starts, but he’s stayed in touch with the people he connected with the most. “The concept of business networking is that you have a group of people and you agree to pass opportunities onto each other. Everyone in the group can offer a different skill which means there’s no conflict. Being an artist I found I didn’t have much to offer the lawyer and banker in the group but actually when we meet up now and go for a coffee, we bounce ideas of each other and that’s really useful.”
3 Be a student
You don’t need to enrol on a degree. Short, one day or weekend classes can top up your skills and turn you into an expert. Think about what you are most passionate about in your work and become the expert in this area. Immerse yourself in it. Read books, articles, research online and start offering your own advice on the subject. In a work scenario, topping up your skills can gain quicker promotions or pay rises, or if you’re looking for a job, having a specific area of expertise can lead to a higher starting salary.
4 Get published
We all have opinions; get into the habit of writing them down. Not everyone has the time and patience to write a blog, and if the blogosphere doesn’t appeal to you there are still other ways to get your name in circulation. Contributing your expert knowledge to “Wiki” pages is a good way to start. It gets you into the habit of writing succinctly and ensuring your facts have been researched. If you want to aim for print, there are a few ways you can start to create a presence.
Rachael has worked in the city for five years but her passion lies in writing women’s lifestyle features. She sent a “reader column” into a free evening paper and when it was published, she got hooked. “I never thought I’d be a writer but having one column published has given me the confidence to do more. I’m now studying writing. I’m not giving up my day job, but I do want to see my name in print more!”
Once you’ve been published, your next step is to ensure your achievement is recorded on your CV. Future employers are always impressed by published work, whatever field you’re in.
5 Volunteer
Aim for a role that interests you that is related to your job or career. Work experience and interns are the first to hear about new internal vacancies or opportunities that arise. Introduce yourself to as many people as possible and tell them your skills and interests. Making one good impression is all it takes to stick in someone’s mind. Marsha landed a fashion column in her local newspaper for two years after spending just one week doing work experience there. “I was bored so I wrote something I was interested in, walked into the editor’s office and pitched my idea. I didn’t get paid for it, but it helped me gain credibility as a fashionista.”
6 Work shadow
Who do you really admire? Identify someone who has the job you want and approach them directly. Tell them why you think they are great and how spending a day with them will help you achieve your own goals. Take the opportunity to ask as many questions as you can to find out how they got to where they are and get some advice on your own situation.
7 De-clutter
Sometimes it seems like life is too short to clear a messy desk, but throwing away unnecessary clutter is always time well spent. If the boss is away, go through your drawers or shelves and dump the papers you hardly ever use. If you work at home or have a studio, use spare moments when you’re between tasks to ensure your workspace remains clear and organised. You may rediscover things you forgot you had, and tidy spaces are more conducive to work.
8 Doodle and brainstorm
Nothing beats a spot of doodling when you’ve got a few idle minutes. Taking time out to sit down and properly plan your career path is useful but not always productive. If you carry around a notebook and jot down ideas and inspirations as they enter your head, you’re more likely to do them. Set yourself small goals to achieve with deadlines, preferably ones you can achieve each week so it feels like you’re getting ahead. This may be as small as making that phone call to ask someone if you can shadow them or as big as booking an evening class.
9 Do something radical
Do something completely unconnected to your career. When it comes to achievements, both personal and professional, confidence is vital. Once you get more confident in your everyday life, you’ll see the effects on your career. Confident people are more likely to take risks or ask for things. Start with achieving small things and the more you do, the more your natural confidence will shine through.
10 Relax and go on holiday
Not all your spare time should be spent on career planning! For some people, the best ideas strike when their mind is on something completely different. Emptying your head from daily chores and stresses does wonders for a person, even if it’s just one night away camping. So take a break, get inspired and come back refreshed and ready to tick off some of your ‘to do’ list.
Page tools
©2008 Creative & Cultural Skills, all rights reserved