In every building, there is more than one way to reach the top floor. It’s the same for your career – there are multiple ways to build your career and climb the company ladder. Some ladders, however, are more stable and some methods are more effective than others. Your job isn’t just a place to show up five or six days a week for eight hours. Hopefully, it’s where you go to expand your boundaries, build your skills, learn new skills, and create a satisfying career – all while earning an income and providing for you and yours. The beginning of each year is a great time to step away from the day-to-day grind of work and spend a bit of quality time reflecting on building your career. With that in mind, MPS Technical offers four tools, which every career builder needs. Challenge Yourself Building means growing, and one of the best ways to grow is to challenge yourself. Get out of your comfort zone and do something new. Don’t let fear of failure get in the way – push yourself.  Challenge yourself to:

• Ask for more responsibility at work
• Turn in a project early
• Improve your attitude
• Learn a new skill
• Meet someone new
• Get to know someone better
• Take better care of yourself in one specific area

  Volunteer Sometimes the best way to grow professionally and personally is to focus on others. Volunteering, especially in an area you are passionate about, can help career building in several ways, including:

• Expanding your personal and professional networks
• Building new skills and gaining experience
• Providing opportunities for career exploration
• Increasing your attractiveness as a potential employee

In her blog post on career building via volunteerism, Allison Jones suggests becoming a charity board member, lending your skills to pro bono, or helping others as a business coach as three ways to volunteer. She shares what’s required, who will like it, and how to get started. Read and Learn Career building requires a “house plan.” It doesn’t just happen. Take time to think about areas you want to grow in and then create a plan of action that includes reading, attending seminars, taking a class, etc. Your unique skills, knowledge, and competency are what makes you a valuable part of a team. Developing these areas will allow you to:

• Stand out in a crowd of employees at work or as a potential candidate in a stack of resumes
• Build your confidence in your personal strengths
• Give you more freedom of choice in career opportunities
• Enable you to contribute to the overall good of your team, company, country, and yes – even globally

No matter which direction your life and career take you, knowledge cannot be taken away. The more you learn, the more you build on what you know, the more learning becomes a valuable tool that you don’t want to lose. Network Building connections and strengthening your ties with others is essential to career growth. While there are multiple ways to accomplish this, choose the ones that fit you and a few that stretch and challenge you.

• Find a mentor. Someone who you can trust, of course, and who brings out the best in you
• Be a mentor. Give to others as others have given to you. You will not only help someone else grow; you will grow in the process
• Attend professional shows and trade meetings
• Join online industry groups
• Join community organizations – locally and nationally
• Attend networking events
• Participate in alumni events for your college
• Volunteer
• Don’t be afraid to ask current contacts for introductions to new contacts

  There are many opportunities to increase your network, but don’t just add names – take the time to build relationships. A few less in number of solid connections is far better than an endless list of names you don’t even recognize. MPS Technical has provided the blueprint. Now it’s your turn; choose a couple of suggestions from each of these pillars and build your career in 2017. Give it your best. We dare you. And when the new and better you need a new and better position, tell us about it. We specialize in connecting talent with top precision manufacturing companies in Minnesota and Wisconsin. We understand – after all, our backyard is your backyard.  Contact us today.