Career development is an important factor in your overall success and well-being. Whether you’re looking to change career paths, level up in your current job, or just gain new skills, here are five tips to help you plan a successful journey of career growth.
Set Clear Goals
Having clearly defined goals is an essential part of career development success. Outline the type of job and position you want to achieve, as well as any learning objectives and skills you need to accomplish along the way. Setting effective performance and professional goals will help you stay on track and improve your chances of success. Break down these goals into SMART objectives (i.e., specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely), so that they are manageable and achievable.
Short and Long-Term Career Planning
Short-term and long-term career planning can help you understand what you need to do each day and how to achieve your professional goals. Use tools such as networking, career action plans, training and development plans, or job shadowing to get an understanding of how your goals can be achieved in both the short-term and long-term. Building strong relationships with professionals who have knowledge of the clearances you need or information about specific job openings is also key for career advancement.
If you are looking for an easy way to start, check out Hardly’s free career planner.
Enhance Your Learning and Education
Staying up to date with the latest trends and knowledge in your chosen industry is an important component of successful career development. Read books, attend seminars and conferences, take professional education classes online or at nearby colleges, and/or join a professional association. These activities can help you keep up with changes in your field, stay current with best practices, show potential employers that you are willing to go the extra mile to acquire new skills, and make connections within the industry.
Establish Professional Connections & Networks
Networking is an important part of career development, as it can help you make contacts in the industry, open doors to new opportunities, and keep your skills sharp. You can meet other professionals at conferences and events or join a professional or alumni organization. Connecting with peers and mentors online through social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter can also be beneficial. Additionally, participating in online forums and discussions related to your industry can help establish yourself as a thought leader.
Hardly’s events are an excellent way to meet other people! You never know which workshop could give you the right connection to launch your career forward.
Search for Mentors & Role Models
Identifying role models and mentors is a great way to learn from the success of others. Mentors are people you can look up to, admiring their achievements, while learning from their experiences. Observing or talking with them can provide insight on how they’ve achieved success in their fields and help you find your own personal approach. Additionally, mentors can be powerful advocates who will champion you and your career aspirations.
Check out Hardly’s career coaches to get expert guidance!
Want to pursue a lucrative career in 2023? There is a good chance that you will be hired if you pursue any of these 10 careers— all of which pay over $100,000. These are the fast-growing careers where hiring is most urgent and growth is most rapid. This data is sourced from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, so you know it’s legit.
Software Developer
- Projected Increase: 26%
- Average Salary: $120K
- Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s Degree
A software developer’s job is to design, develop, test and deploy computer software. They may work on a variety of projects, from developing new applications to maintaining and improving existing ones. A software developer must have strong problem-solving and technical skills, as well as be able to work effectively in a team.
This job also has the advantage of being highly entrepreneurial. So if you are thinking about freelancing for most of your career, being a software developer is a good option.
Medical and Health Services Manager
- Projected Increase: 28.3%
- Average Salary: $101K
- Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s Degree
The Medical and Health Services Manager career offers the security and money of a medical career, but is also ideal for those who prefer to work at a desk that is far away from sick people. You will be responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating healthcare providers’ business activities.
Your days will be filled with pushing papers in the medical office and meeting with doctors, but you’ll still have time to cash your $101K salary check at the bank.
Financial Manager
- Projected Increase: 16.8%
- Average Salary: $132K
- Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s Degree
A financial manager is responsible for the financial wellbeing of their organization. They create financial plans, direct investment activities, and oversee financial risk management. Financial managers work in a variety of industries, including banking, insurance, accounting, and financial planning.
The role of a financial manager is not a new one, and most of this increased need is due to people retiring or leaving the workforce.
Nurse Practitioner
- Projected Increase: 45.7%
- Average Salary: $121K
- Typical Entry-Level Education: Master's Degree
The “hero career” is no surprise to remain in the top growing careers for 2023. You’ll bring home $121K per year and be recognized for saving lives. Nursing practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and midwives are all known as advanced practice registered nurses. Their responsibilities include coordinating patient care and providing primary and specialty care.
Prepare yourself for companies to start chasing you once you get your Master’s degree, but don’t get too excited! There is one more step to complete—obtaining your state’s license and APRN certification.
Computer and Information Systems Manager
- Projected Increase: 16.2%
- Average Salary: $159K
- Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's Degree
The job of a computer and information systems manager is to plan, organize, and coordinate the activities of workers who design, develop, test, and maintain computer software and systems. They also oversee the installation of new systems and ensure that existing systems are compatible with new software and hardware. In addition, computer and information systems managers consult with other departments to ensure that their computer system needs are met.
You can work in a variety of different industries— including government, education, or private businesses. To read more about being a Computer and Information Systems Manager, check out this article from Chron.
Prepare yourself for companies to start chasing you once you get your Master’s degree, but don’t get too excited! There is one more step to complete—obtaining your state’s license and APRN certification.
Health Specialties Teacher
- Projected Increase: 24.1%
- Average Salary: $102K
- Typical Entry-Level Education: Professional Degree or Doctorate
Health Specialties Teachers’ job is to instruct various subjects like human anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology to healthcare students. They also prepare students for their future roles in the healthcare field.
The majority of health specialty teachers are employed by colleges or universities. Some of them, however, work in medical hospitals, trade schools, or junior colleges. Additional licenses and certifications may be required based on the field you teach in.
Information Security Analyst
- Projected Increase: 34.7%
- Average Salary: $103K
- Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's Degree
This job is also called the “White Hat Hacker” job and reminds us of all those hacking scenes in movies. Information Security Analysts are responsible for the overall security of an organization’s information systems.
They work to identify and mitigate security risks, and are responsible for developing and implementing security policies and procedures. Information security analysts must have a strong understanding of computer networks and systems, and must be able to think critically to identify and resolve security issues.
Data Scientist
- Projected Increase: 35.8%
- Average Salary: $101K
- Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's Degree
This job is also called the “White Hat Hacker” job and reminds us of all those hacking scenes in movies. Information Security Analysts are responsible for the overall security of an organization’s information systems.
They work to identify and mitigate security risks, and are responsible for developing and implementing security policies and procedures. Information security analysts must have a strong understanding of computer networks and systems, and must be able to think critically to identify and resolve security issues.
Bonus! Here are some other high-growth careers:
- Marketing Managers
- Sales Managers
- Veterinarians
- Human Resource Managers
- Dentists
- Pharmacists
- Computer Network Architects
- Computer and Information Research Scientists
- Industrial Production Managers
- Electronics Engineers
How do you know which of these is the best career for you?
All of the jobs on this list pay well, but you shouldn’t choose one of these careers solely because of the paycheck. Sign up for a free Hardly account today and you can use our tools and assessments to understand what you need and want in your career. Want to take it up a notch? You can chat with one of our coaches, who will be able to guide you through understanding yourself in the context of your career.
It is your life and your career that you will invest much time and energy into. A rewarding career choice will give you energy, passion, and joy.