How to Build a Lasting Career?
The first five years of a career can be daunting. These years are critical for long-term growth. Early habits, experiences, and networks can shape the entire career path. You’ve to take actionable steps to build a strong professional foundation.
Build a career guide
A good career guide helps you identify your strengths, understand your interests, and align them with market opportunities.
Write your vision of a career. Start writing your career goals. Think of the career trap that you may be in. Think of the reasons why you’re holding down a job. Weigh the positive with the negatives. Think about whether you’re always wanting to fulfil others’ expectations. Think of how busy you actually are. Try to adapt to changes happening in the company and the market. Build professional relationships.
Learn how to learn
Adopt a growth mindset. Treat every project as an opportunity to learn and improve yourself. Don’t just follow instructions but ask questions like ‘why?’ Ask your mentor why ‘x’ is ‘x’. Get feedback from your employers and apply it quickly to improve your skills.
Build Core Skills
Learn technical skills relevant to your industry like software, tools, and methods. Learn universal soft skills like communication, problem solving, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. Soft skills like these are relevant across industries and roles.
Network with intention
Start building genuine connections inside and outside your company. Attend industry events, webinars, and workshops. Maintain relationships not just when you need something.Your online presence must reflect who you are as a professional. Separate personal from professional online profiles and update them as necessary.
Take ownership of your work
Use your common sense to guess what’s next and don’t wait to be told about the next step. Be a volunteer and take on challenging projects to stretch your capabilities. Document your achievements and performance, try to receive performance reviews to showcase in your future job applications.
Find mentors
Identify people in your field. They might be the ones who inspired you to start out in this field. Learn from their career paths, decisions, and mistakes. Understand the difference between a mentor and a sponsor.
Manage time and energy wisely
Manage your everyday tasks using a list. Prioritise which tasks are the most important. Finish urgent tasks first and then move onto important tasks. Avoid burnout by developing a strategy to balance work and life better. Set boundaries so that you can be consistent in your performance long-term.
Keep your career plan flexible
Set short-term and long-term goals, but be open to unexpected opportunities. Track your growth every 6-12 months and adjust the direction as necessary. Embrace lateral moves if they help you learn new skills or expand your network.
If you’re ready to start your career journey and build a lasting one at that visit CareerFirst.lk You can find new job opportunities at our website. Additionally browse courses and articles in the blog section. Follow for latest updates on job opportunities in Facebook and LinkedIn.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are the first five years of my career so important?
The first five years set the tone for your professional habits, skills, and network. They help establish your work ethic, credibility, and direction, which can influence your long-term career success.
2. What is a career guide, and why do I need one?
A career guide is a personal roadmap that outlines your strengths, interests, and goals. It helps you make informed decisions, avoid career traps, and adapt to changes in your company or industry.
3. How can I improve my ability to learn at work?
Adopt a growth mindset, treat every project as a learning opportunity, ask questions, and seek feedback. Applying what you learn quickly helps you grow faster.
4. What are the “core skills” I should focus on?
You need a balance of technical skills (industry-specific tools, methods, and software) and soft skills (communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and emotional intelligence). Soft skills are valuable across all industries.
5. How can I network effectively without feeling fake?
Build genuine relationships by helping others, attending events, and staying connected beyond when you need something. Keep your professional online presence updated and separate from your personal one.