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New Year’s Resolutions Every Admin
Should Consider
by
Diane Domeyer, executive director of Office Team
Nearly everyone makes resolutions at the beginning of the year, but how many
of these objectives are career related? Not many, according to a recent
survey. Eighty-eight percent of workers polled by our company said they did
not make any career-related resolutions at the beginning of 2006. If you’re
among this group, you might consider changing course in 2007. Nearly
three-quarters (75 percent) of those who did make career-related resolutions
last year were successful in achieving their goals.
Many administrative professionals focus their New Year’s resolutions on ways
to spend more time with loved ones or on other quality-of-life improvements.
But work also contributes to your overall well-being, which makes this time
of year ideal for re-evaluating your aspirations and developing detailed
plans for achieving them.
Here are a few simple, but specific, objectives you might consider for the
coming year:
Learn something new. In our survey, those polled ranked skills
enhancement as their top professional priority for the new year. Acquiring a
new skill may be easier than you think; many professional associations and
colleges host training seminars and certification programs geared
specifically toward those in the administrative profession. You also could
volunteer for a project at work outside of your normal duties. Doing so adds
to your skill set while also demonstrating your dedication and willingness
to continually improve. The skill set you gain could be key to earning a
promotion or landing a new position in 2007.
Refresh your resume. Whether you’re happily employed or in the middle
of finding a new administrative job, you should always keep your resume
current. Ready-to-go application materials are invaluable not only if your
employment situation suddenly changes but also in the event you’re under
consideration for a promotion.
Expand your network. A solid web of professional contacts can be
invaluable for support staff interested in advancing their careers.
Professional acquaintances can provide employment leads as well as
job-search and career-management advice. To grow your web of contacts, start
attending professional association chapter meetings or regular networking
events. Remember that for career resolutions to be effective, they must be
achievable. If you’ve done little networking in the past, start small. Aim
to attend one function where you are likely to meet new administrative
contacts each month, rather than two events per week. While noble, setting
your sights too high can prove disheartening if you continually fail to meet
the expectations you’ve set for yourself.
Also remember to reward yourself as you reach your professional goals
throughout the year. Giving yourself regular pats on the back will increase
your motivation to succeed.
Setting a career resolution for the year ahead may seem somewhat strange to
you, but keep in mind that professional advancement requires careful
planning. Take the opportunity now to set concrete goals for the future and
dedicate 2007 to reaching them.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Diane Domeyer is executive
director of OfficeTeam, the nation’s leading staffing service specializing
in the temporary placement of highly skilled administrative and office
support professionals. OfficeTeam has more than 300 locations worldwide and
offers online job search services at
www.officeteam.com.
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Karen Porter, The Administrative Professional Job Performance and Career Success Coach™
