How to Feel Successful Early on in Your Career- The Muse

How to Feel Successful Early on in Your Career- The MuseHow to Feel Successful Early on in Your CareerWhen I departureed my first job as a digital media coordinator at a small Catholic university, the only thought Id given to my five-year plan was how Id explain it in an interview.Flash forward five years and two titles later and I had settled into a day-to-day routine. I found myself increasingly bored with work I was once excited about. As I began planning the next phase in my career, I realized that for all of the experience, connections, and skills I had developed up to that point, I hadnt paid close enough attention to the big picture of what would make me feel successful. Turns out, it isnt just about your salary.I wasnt alone in feeling restless early in my career. According to a 2016 study conducted by LinkedIn, Millennials will change jobs four (or more) times before the age of 32 (as compared to Gen-Xers who made two moves in that timespan).But what I learned is that if you just leap into your next role, you may feel the same restlessness. However, if you work at feeling successful in the job you have, you might just find happiness there. And if you dont? Not only will you avoid regrets, but everything youve done to bolster your current experience will make you a really attractive job applicant. So, whatever path you end up taking, youre setting yourself up for success. Try this1. Document Your WinsSuccessful people get things done. Look at your organizations goals and objectives. How have you contributed individually or as a member of a gruppe to bring positive (and measurable) results to achieve them? Consider where you solved a problem, created something new, or saved resources for your company. Be as detailed as possible when documenting experiences. (Bonus It only takes 15 minutes a week, and this guide will walk you through how to do it.)Writing down your proudest work achievements pays off in a lot of ways. In times of self-doubt, they serve as a confirmation of your abilities and an immediate injection of confidence. During a job search, they make impactful resume bullet points, attention-grabbing cover letter statements, and a great answer to some of those pesky behavioral questions that everyone hates to answer, like, Tell me about a project youre fruchtwein proud of.So, use your wins as a guide to keep excelling in your current role- or go out and get your next one.2. Contribute to Team AchievementsIts so easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day and become so focused on our own responsibilities that we forget to engage with our peers in a meaningful way. Take the time to put yourself in their shoes. If theyre struggling, how can you help? Become the person your colleagues seek out for something youve developed expertise in. Is there something youre really good at that can you offer to help them with? All the better if its something you actually enjoyDont discount soft skills like active listening. You could be the go -to person when they need someone to bounce an idea off of Itll keep your days fresh, and youll know you played a part in their achievements. Another way to pitch in is by accepting a task no one else wants. Sure, you dont want that to take up the bulk of your time, but if it wont disrupt your current workflow (for more than a few hours), demonstrating your commitment to the team wont go unnoticed. It could be that engaging with your team helps you feel more connected to- and inspired by- your work. And if not, youll be padding your resume with examples of your stellar work performance in the meantime.YOU DONT HAVE TO STAY STUCK IN A RUTWe know experts who specialize in getting un-stuck.Talk to a Career Coach Today 3. Pursue a Personal ProjectAre there opportunities for you to align your personal interests with professional growth? For instance, if youre really interested in graphic design and your company has a graphic design team, you could ask to work with them on a creative proj ect to learn more about design and the companys graphic standards.If theres no opportunity to apply what most interests you to a project at your current company, design your own. Channel your passion for writing into a personal blog or freelance writing gig. Explore your interest in web design by building your own website or digital portfolio. A personal projects a low-risk way to challenge yourself, develop new skills, and explore other careers. At the very least, your personal project will provide you with something to be proud of when your regular job isnt satisfying those needs.Plus, it can also lead you to a new opportunity that youd never even imagined. (Heres a true story of that happening)Whether youre just feeling stuck in a bit of a rut or pretty certain its time to change roles, focusing on your success makes sense. Its so much more than patting yourself on the back It can help you grow where you are- or lead you to something entirely new. Either way, this reflection will help guide your career so you can feel good about the start of your career, as well as whats to come.