Connect with Your Career in the New Year

The new year is always a time to start fresh with new energy and enthusiasm, and that spirit can be a big boost to your career. If you feel disconnected at work or with your career goals, here’s some advice for you going into 2015.

Are you disconnected FROM work?

Being “disconnected” as a worker can mean a few different things.  For some people, it can mean being unemployed or facing other challenges that make it hard to find work. If you find yourself in that situation, contacting your local Goodwill and learning about options in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act can help you reconnect.

Are you disconnected AT work?

It’s possible to be disengaged from your job, too, by not feeling connected to or interested in the work that you’re doing. How can you get back on track at your workplace and with your colleagues? Here are three strategies:

1. Work on improving your people skills. Work towards building abilities such as teamwork, communication and respect.  Improvement of these soft skills will allow you to work more effectively with others, open lines of communication and value the roles of your co-workers.
2. Work with tools and technology. This is especially important for remote employees: Make sure you are in tune and up to date with all methods of workplace engagement. This includes taking advantage of services like e-mail, VPN access, mobile devices, video chat platforms and cloud-based solutions.
3. Seek Professional Development. Establish a regular check-in or evaluation of your work with your direct supervisor. This feedback will enable you to remain on task, engaged with your leadership, and allow your opinions and ideas to be heard.  Furthermore, seek and take advantage of professional development opportunities offered by your company. Such a commitment is a great way to display that you welcome being a part of a company who believes in a culture of engagement. 

While you’re working on getting more engaged at work, you can also think about the advice that we published in these earlier posts:

• Five TED Talks That Will Change the Way You Work and Think
• Attitude Is a Big Dog That Must Be Tamed
• Four Questions to Find Greater Job Satisfaction

You can find even more career and financial advice on GoodProspects, from preparing for different steps on your career journey to career profiles and more.