The summer is a good time reflect on how well you’re managing your career, even if you are at work, rather than on the beach, it’s probably fairly quiet, with colleagues on holiday and fewer enquiries or customers.
If you are on holiday you should relax – a survey by Glassdoor found that nearly half of employees (44%) have been known to work while on holiday, that’s not the idea. You should switch off and enjoy your break, it makes you significantly more productive when you get back to work.
Once you clear your mind and unwind a bit then it’s smart to think about what you want from your work, whether your current role fulfils your needs and aligns with your values.
Reconnect
Social connection is important to humans. Studies in positive psychology suggest that being social is good for our happiness. The more you spend time with others, especially with people you care about, the happier and more satisfied with your life you tend to be.
Networking is a crucial career skill. 10Eighty believe there is a clear correlation between the effort invested in networking and cultivating contacts and success in mapping a satisfactory career path. Take time to reconnect with people you may not have talked to for a while, reach out to old friends, former managers and ex-colleagues and take time to send a friendly email, or make a quick phone call.
Effective networking is about creating value for others, and your social capital increases as a result- empowerment through connecting and giving. There are always things you can do for other people, spend time finding out about the needs of others – talk about them, not you. Don’t just ask questions, do something to earn gratitude.
Review
Assess your career and where you are against the goals you set out at the start of the year; evaluate your situation; life’s changes and challenges may mean you have to be flexible and agile in your approach to the rest of the year and your goals.
Make time for personal reflection; perhaps, a self-directed SWOT analysis. Think about your strengths, consider your priorities and commitments, and review your year to date and potential for the year ahead. Successful career planning is built on self-awareness, so consider your strengths as a key part of your personal brand.
Aim to plan your career path in the same organised way you plan your holidays. The better your planning and preparation the more you will benefit. Don’t limit yourself, if you have a good understanding of what interests you, what motivates your and what you value in your career then the world is your oyster. Invest in yourself to fulfil your potential and think about how your strengths can best be deployed in your current role and your future career plan.
Revise
Summer is a good time to review your ongoing learning. What would like to change or improve or add to your skillset? Acquiring relevant skills will add strength to job applications, while demonstrating your drive and enthusiasm and commitment to your career.
Research your options and what you need to do in terms of skillsets and learning to further your aspirations. Think about your current organisation and what the future options are likely to be there.
The summer should offer some quiet time for reading. A holiday reading list should include books that are informative, entertaining and thought provoking. Try podcasts, too, they’re so flexible and allow you to listen while doing other things.