Managing Your Own Career - The “How to Guide” for Emerging HR Professionals
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There often comes a time in any role when you start to question how to better progress your career and how to continue challenging your current state of employment. For some, this may come around during your annual or quarterly performance reviews, while others may strive for continuous improvement more frequently. Whatever your motivation may be, it is important to recognise when you’re feeling the need to be challenged and how you can facilitate this to take those next steps and manage your career towards your goals.
Set Your Objective
There are many ways to progress in your career. Succession planning can be a formal way of mapping out a timeline of milestones that you would like to achieve. However, not all companies diligently offer you the benefit of such a road map and as a result you will need to take responsibility for your own career path. To achieve this, it is important to do your research, set clear objectives for yourself and utilise those around you to help achieve your desired result. Often a great starting point for this is with your current Manager. Like any successful relationship, the key to this is communication and transparency. Be open and upfront with your Manager about where you would like to go in your career and present your ideas, plans and goals in a proactive manner. Ask for feedback and take it on with an open mind.
Present Your Business Case
If you’ve decided it’s time to take a step up, then make sure you’ve done your due diligence. Ask for advice and check out realistic options, is it really about “up?” Or, could a step for the better mean looking at secondment opportunities, projects, or time with a different part of the HR function, maybe even further studies? Career progression can occur in your current role if you look for it. If your goal is to move from an HR Advisor position into a HR Business Partner role for example, it’s worth understanding what these roles truly involve. Spend a day or two shadowing an HR Business Partner, reflect on your own gaps and highlight your development areas. Also consider the ‘do it more than once’ principle, that is, practice builds perspective. Develop your expertise by doing things more than once, honing your craft. This in turn affords you credibility which as we know, is the cornerstone of each and every HR role.
Use Your Network
Speak to advocates within the business who can validate and back you as a credible HR professional. Additionally, in demonstrating that you are ready for a change, you will need to illustrate your broader understanding of the business and the value-add nature of your work. As you step up, across or deeper in to the business, your stakeholders will seek to understand your own insights in to what the business is trying to achieve and how your work directly impacts this. Understanding and interpreting metrics, actually reading the annual report (!) and spending time with stakeholders that are willing to entertain your curiosity and questions and better yet, ideas, are all key initiatives you can drive yourself.
Connecting with a mentor is another option that may assist in your role and career planning. This could take the form of a past Manager, or a senior HR professional that can provide you with various and experienced perspectives. A good mentor will challenge your thinking, help you consider your strengths and development needs and ask you questions you may not have asked yourself. Managing your own career doesn’t have to be limited to speaking with those you know. Brave the unknown and ask for introductions where you can. Always take personal responsibility for seeking out the advice you need to get ahead. Being genuinely proactive sets you up well in your career in any case!
In Closing
If your current employer offers development opportunities that is great, but for others, it may mean it’s time to look for a new role. With this in mind, make sure your resume and LinkedIn profile succinctly and accurately represent your current and prior experience and what you have achieved. Once this is done, don’t be afraid of seeking counsel and advice from specialist recruiters. Bear in mind that it can take time to find the right role that will utilise your current skillset and continue to build upon your experience.
All in all, there are many ways to progress your career and no right or wrong way to go about it. Most importantly, it is vital to set relevant, achievable and timely goals for yourself that will aid in your progression and keep you on track to achieve your career goals.
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