As the new year rolls in, most people have the same old resolutions on their minds: eat right, exercise, finally tame the household clutter. But if you’re more career-minded, your resolutions might include finding a new legal support position or pushing your career back onto the track you’ve dreamed of taking.
Start 2015 off right by evaluating, setting, and managing your career goals. Here’s how:
- Know what you want. Start by taking some time to think about what you want to accomplish in the next year, five years, and ten years. Ideally, these goals will build on one another. It can also be helpful to list what you don’t want in a career or employer; when you’re clear on which paths to avoid, the path to take can be much easier.
- Create SMART goals. “SMART” goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. A goal that meets these five criteria is one you can check off your list in the next year. Once you know where you want to aim, start looking at how you’ll get there.
- Use your annual performance review for information. Prepare for your annual performance review by looking over your job description and preparing specific questions to ask. For instance, asking how you can achieve a particular milestone in your career can help you gather information; asking for advice on continuing education or other opportunities may also open up doors. Or you may learn that your best growth opportunities are not with your current employer.
Resources for Managing Your Career in the New Year
Career management has become a personal endeavor: the most productive and satisfied legal support professionals are those who take a proactive approach to career growth. Here are a few tools that can help you manage your career effectively:
- Connect with a recruiter. A staffing firm that specializes in placing legal support staff can help you identify employers that offer both the career opportunity and the cultural “fit” that will allow you to do your best work. Talk to the team at Kent Legal to learn more.
- Stay “in the know.” Following LinkedIn communities, Twitter feeds, and blogs on the legal support field, as well as on hiring and career management, allows you to peruse a wealth of information from the comfort of your own home. Start by subscribing to Kent Legal’s blog through your favorite RSS reader.
Want to supercharge your legal support career but don’t know where to start? Contact Kent Legal. We specialize in connecting qualified legal support staff with employers throughout the greater Toronto area.