As 2014 draws to a close, businesses and their staff are being urged to use the festive period to look back on their successes over the past year, while deciding what they hope to accomplish over the next 12 months.
The Australian Institute of Management (AIM) in Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT and Northern Territory has compiled a list of areas where employees can give their careers a boost in 2014.
Among its recommendations is for workers to spend Christmas refreshing their CVs – this should be done at least twice a year, regardless of whether they are job hunting or not.
AIM noted how this encourages people to reflect on their latest achievements in a timely manner, meaning they are less likely to overlook key aspects when writing their resumes retrospectively.
Employees should also factor incremental learning into their daily routine – around 20 minutes, as advised by the group.
This could take a number of forms – workers might want to get involved in industry-related discussion on social media, or sign up to a publication.
With more down time than usual over Christmas and New Year, there should be plenty of opportunity to enhance career prospects.
Chief executive officer of the group Vivienne Anthon commented: “Employers are always looking for people who are committed to personal and professional development and acquiring new skill sets.
“You’re never too old to update your skill set and improve your resume and there are strategies and tips that do exactly that which cost nothing.”
As workers return in the new year with a renewed focus, it is the job of employers to make sure their needs are being met.
Carrying out training needs analysis is a great step in the right direction – this will help determine where employees want to develop their skills, which in turn can inform training decisions.
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