How to Give Your Career a Makeover

Your job is great, but you feel like you have plateaued. Every day seems a lot like yesterday. Earnings have flattened out. You realize that while you feel secure, your career is just running in place. Rather than just leaving things on autopilot, it is time to give your career a makeover. It needs a jump start and a fresh enthusiasm. There are some simple steps to get that makeover started.

Make a list

You need a list that describes fresh career goals. On this list should be things that define how high up the ladder you would like to rise. It should also include whether you might prefer to shift into a different facet of your field. For example, you may choose to move from production into management. The list should also include any new training that you might need to make the career moves you are desiring.

Set a date

Lists, hopes, and dreams are of little value without a schedule. At this point, setting firm dates for major career changes may seem a little presumptuous. Experience teaches that without deadlines very few real objectives are ever reached. Even if you must adjust the date at a future point, it is important to have a target date to set up the rest of your agenda around. For large changes like going back to school, the time horizon can be as much as 5 years or more.

You will want to set some intermediate check points along the way. If you need to go back to school, plot out a realistic schedule to begin and finish. If you need two years of education, give yourself three. This will allow you time to complete the registration process. It will also give you a little buffer in case a class is not offered when you need it, or you have some sort of set back. Building in a buffer will keep you from throwing up your hands and quitting from the frustration of not staying exactly on schedule.

Upgrade your wardrobe

If you are pursuing a promotion, you are unlikely to have enough of the right clothes to fit the new position. Clothing is expensive. You will need a year or more to get your closet in shape. Watch for items that have flexibility that you can build outfits around. For men, this would be sports coats, slacks, and accessories. For women, this would be blazers, blouses or tops, and skirts or pants with maybe a few dresses thrown in for good measure along with those accessories.

Consider changing cars

This may not be necessary for you if you already drive a late model larger car. Part of getting promotions is learning to play the game. Part of the game is looking right as often as possible. You have overhauled your wardrobe. Now, you need to look great coming and going. Shop for a bargain so that you do not break the bank for this item. It is alright to buy a car a couple of years old that is in great shape. This will save many thousands off of the cost of a new car and produce the same effect.

Take a good look in the mirror

Whether a man or a woman, your hair style is important. Just because that hair style was a killer two decades ago does not mean it is impressive today. While you are in makeover mode, try out a new style or two. During the time when you are preparing other areas for your career move, you can experiment without it costing you advancement points.

You may want to cover the gray if it only makes you look older and not distinguished. For men, you may need to either loose or grow some facial hair depending on your appearance and the expectations of your superiors. Try out some better scents for your cologne and perfume.

Make some additional friends

Moving up in the business world is about who you know. Join some clubs that will have you rubbing shoulders with people who control the path to where you want to go. This can be risky if you fail to impress them. However, it is a greater risk to fail to build effective networks.