How do you find career growth opportunities?

When I was advancing in a not-for-profit, it started with doing great work AND getting noticed for it. As a result of being noticed, better assignments were offered, mentorship, advancement opportunities, and, ultimately leadership. Too often, people stop at the first step of doing great work and do nothing to self-promote so they are noticed. Thus they are taken for granted and become frustrated

Career growth isn't separate from personal growth - it's a byproduct. That's why self-assessment matters. But it’s not checking skills, gaps, or values boxes. It's messy and emotionally charged. Start by asking a full range of questions like: → What gives me a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment at work? → What drains me and leaves me feeling unsatisfied? → What career frustrations keep me up at night? → Where's the imbalance tipping me over in my work-life equilibrium? It’s about professional and personal growth. Embrace it, embrace the messiness when navigating the confusion. That’s the beginning of a growth mindset, which is the foundation for fantastic career pivots and acceleration. #growthmindset #careermanagement

After a fruitful seven-year stint at Future Group and some time with Bagzone Retail, I took a sabbatical, diving deep into my love for storytelling. This reflection drove me to become an independent content creator, crafting impactful narratives for brands like HDFC Life, UST Global,Comviva etc. As I went on to work with digital agencies and brands like Welspun Flooring, my commitment remained steadfast: crafting authentic brand narratives. In essence, navigating a fulfilling professional journey isn't about the brands you work with but about embracing change, continuous learning, and staying true to your craft. Your career is defined by the stories you weave and the passion-driven growth you chase.

The Ikigai model, from Japan, helps assess your situation and identify career growth opportunities. Ikigai refers to one's "reason for being," and the model is a convergence of four fundamental components of life: what you love, what the world needs, what you can be paid for, and what you are good at. These intersect to form your Ikigai or your ultimate purpose. In using the Ikigai model to identify your career growth opportunities, you could start by listing responses to these four components based on your self-assessments, feedback, coaching, or mentoring.

I love that LinkedIn is a goldmine for career growth research! → People in the field/job you want → New opportunities → Field thought leaders Just to name a few! Here’s a great research tactic for career growth opportunities: → Find someone doing what you aspire to do → Reach out & connect with them → Ask for advice, not a job People on LinkedIn expect business-related outreach, and most are willing to assist. Learn from their experiences. → If they came from a different industry (and that’s what you’re doing) how? → If they climbed the internal ladder (like you want to) how? This is an ongoing type of research, stay proactive! Bonus – you’re building your network while finding opportunities! #networking #careermanagement

When career coaching, I often hear, "I'm not sure what I want to do." That’s cool. Here's the real win - knowing what you DON'T want! Here’s why: → If it's on your 'no' list – pass it up immediately → If it's NOT on the 'no' list – check it ou, consider it The off-path, surprising opportunities can lead to fantastic, exciting career pivots. Sure, we craft a plan, complete with the key elements of brand, strategy, actions, timelines, and more. And the plan’s most crucial feature of any plan is its flexibility. Stay adaptable and open to whatever crosses your path! #careermanagement

I coached someone who was having trouble getting interviews. "Who knows about you," I asked. "A lot of people do." "What about outside of your organization? Who knows what you've accomplished? After all, your LinkedIn profile is 3 years out of date. How does anyone know of your impact unless you promote yourself?" Silence. It is critical for people to update their profiles to showcase their skills and successes so that people outside their organization know about them and opportunities arrive in their inbox, messaging, or voice mail. Otherwise, your achievements will be invisible to the world outside your group or organization,