Working at something you’re passionate about doesn’t automatically lead to job satisfaction. A big salary isn’t the key to happiness either.
Being on a career path, having opportunities to move forward is almost as desired as getting a raise.
The majority of professionals of all ages, responding to a 2019 CNBC/survey Monkey* online poll, said that more training or learning opportunities would most improve their job satisfaction after a higher salary. Having more paid time off came in second, and a more flexible schedule was third.
The survey found that unhappy employees are more likely to name a lack of career advancement more than feeling like they’re underpaid as the reason.
“Four in 10 workers give their companies a negative rating on how well they help their employees advance their careers,” said Jon Cohen, SurveyMonkey Chief Research Officer.
If you’re unhappy, explore the options at your current employer.
🔹 Many companies have in-house training programs and/or pay for outside professional development.
🔹 Some employers offer tuition reimbursement for college or university courses. With major colleges and universities offering online degree programs, you may be able to earn a degree on your company’s dime.
🔹 Meet with your boss to discuss projects you’ve been working on and express your interest in career advancement. Ask about upcoming projects, particularly stretch assignments that will allow you to build your skills.
🔹 Talk to human resources to discuss professional development options, like a formal mentoring program. If not, take steps to find a mentor or, better yet, a sponsor who will advocate for you.
If you’re serious about career advancement, you need to make sure people know who you are and what you’ve accomplished.
As with most things in life, you need to take responsibility for your career.
*The CNBC/SurveyMonkey online poll was conducted among a national sample of 8,664 professionals across industries. The data was weighted for age, race, sex, employment status, and geography.
Subscribe to the Smarter Career Moves Podcast and Follow the Smarter Career Moves club on Clubhouse đź‘‹
đź“Ś NEW Podcast: Content Marketing School.
Thank you for listening, I hope you found this episode insightful and relevant. If you're a coach, consultant, or entrepreneur, or just want to dive more deeply into content marketing. I hope you'll join me on my new podcast, Content Marketing School.
Available on your favorite podcast platform.
(Previously recorded, Live Show)
Follow Black Dog Marketing Strategies on social media
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blackdogmarketingstrategies
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annetterichmond/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@annetteadvises
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annetteadvises/
Visit our website https://blackdogmarketingstrategies.com/
[00:00:03.880] - Annette
Hi, I'm Annette Richmond, executive resume writer and host of the Smart Career Moves podcast. If you're on Clubhouse and you like this podcast, follow the Smarter Career Moves Club. Welcome back to the Smarter Career Moves podcast. Today, I want to talk to you about how to create a career path and why it's important for you to do thaIt turns out that being on a career path with opportunities to move forward in your career, get a promotion is just as coveted by people as getting a raise. The majority of professionals of all ages responding to a 2019 CNBC / Survey Monkey poll said that more training or learning opportunities would most improve their job satisfaction after getting an increase in salary. Having more paid time off came in second and a more flexible work schedule was third. The survey noted that dissatisfied workers are more likely to cite a lack of career advancement rather than not feeling that they're well compensated.
[00:01:41.200] - Annette
John Cohen, Survey Monkey Chief Research Officer, said that "Four in 10 workers gave their companies a negative rating on how well they helped their employees advance in their careers. If you're unhappy at work, explore your options where you are right now. Many companies have in-house training or they pay for outside professional development. Some companies provide tuition reimbursement for college or university courses. And with many universities, top colleges and universities today offering online degree programs, you may be able to earn your degree on your company's dime.
[00:02:23.740] - Annette
So what's better than that? Start by scheduling a time to meet with your boss, talk about projects that you've been working on, and let your boss know you're interested in advancing your career. Ask about upcoming projects, particularly stretch assignments that will allow you to grow and build your skills. Find out what he or she considers areas that you might improve in and welcome suggestions on how to better yourself. Make an appointment with H.R. to discuss professional development, things like tuition reimbursement.
[00:03:00.100] - Annette
Find out if your company has a formal mentoring program, many companies do. If not, take steps to find a mentor, someone who can advise you along the way. Better yet, find yourself a sponsor who will advocate for you to move forward. Networking, of course, will play a big part in this. Most people think of networking as finding people to help them find a job. But that's not the only purpose of networking. If you're serious about career advancement, you need to make sure people know who you are and what you've accomplished at your current position.
[00:03:43.480] - Annette
You can't assume that your boss or certainly your boss's boss knows what you are doing. When you do find a potential mentor or sponsor, nurture the relationship. Don't start off by asking for help with your career. Now, it's certainly more straightforward if your employer has formal career paths or career ladders, or if your boss or H.R. can help you build a career path. Some companies do have that. But as with most things in life, you do need to take responsibility for your career. If you're not happy where you are see what else, what other options there are within your company.
[00:04:28.360] - Annette
You may be able to transfer to another department or there may be a promotion that you can apply for. If you're still unhappy, obviously you can look for a new position, but any professional development that you have with your current employer will certainly help your job search in the future. Thanks again for joining me today and good luck with your job search.
[00:04:56.640] - Annette
Thanks again for joining us for this episode of Smarter Career Moves podcast, if you enjoyed it, please subscribe and follow the Smarter Career Moves Club and Clubhouse. Thank you!