Career Fitness Hub | Get career fit!
Take charge of your career
Become a lifelong fan (of learning)
Increase your visibility
Build your brand
A final pep talk

Get in 
the game

Ready, set, go! Take
charge of your career

The world of work, like football, is
an unpredictable game.
It’s changing – and the pace of change is getting quicker. The jobs of the future will need skills that don’t even exist yet.

We need to keep up if we want to carry on playing. We can’t rely on our past results to take us forward.

To remain a valued teammate, you need to build skills for life. This will increase the opportunities available to you and support
your lifelong employability.

‘Get in the game’

Become a lifelong fan
(of learning)

When we talk about skills for life, we mean a commitment to lifelong learning.
Because in a changing world, the ability to learn new things is the only skill that’s absolute.

You can’t rely on your existing skills to take you to the next phase of your career – Don’t stand still. Keep moving

To do this, you’ll need a growth mindset: the belief that you can develop your abilities through dedication and hard work, and the resilience to learn from failure.

With a growth mindset, you’ll learn to love learning!

To learn more about the Growth Mindset, go to the MyLearning Platform and search for Growth Mindset module.

Increase your visibility

When people know who you are
and what you can do, it opens up
more opportunities for you.

Build your personal brand

Your personal brand is all the good bits that make you ‘you’. To develop it, you must:
  • understand what makes you different and valuable
  • define it
  • share it

Develop your network

Networking is about building long-term, supportive relationships. Your network can:
  • expose you to new experiences and opportunities
  • support your career growth (your line manager is part of your network too!)
  • provide you with a mentor to support your career growth

Showcase yourself

Shine a spotlight on your values, skills and experience. Show us what you can do by:
  • speaking up in meetings and huddles
  • looking for high-visibility projects to be involved in
  • being your own best advocate

Give back

Being visible isn’t about bragging or grandstanding –
you can support others too by:
  • saying thank you
  • highlighting your colleagues’ achievements
  • finding ways to support your network

Build your brand

Your personal brand is the unique combination of values, skills and experiences that make you ‘you’.
To discover your personal brand, ask yourself:
  • What would my manager, colleagues, family and friends say about me?
  • What am I known for at work – for example, expertise, presentation skills, being helpful?
  • What would I like to be known for – for example, strategic thinking or being able to challenge?
  • Am I a reliable person? Do I consistently deliver good results? Can others count on me?

Get your elevator pitch nailed!

Your elevator pitch is a way to share your expertise and credentials quickly and effectively with people who don't know you – it helps you to make a great first impression.

Start by introducing yourself

Hello. My name’s Amy.
It’s so nice to meet you.

Tell us, briefly, what you do

I’m a Sales Colleague, and for the last three years, I’ve been helping our customers to enjoy amazing technology and making sure we hit our targets. I love learning about new technologies.

Develop your network

Networking isn’t about people standing around making small talk. It's about making real connections with people.
You might not realise it, but you already have a network. It’s made up of your allies – those colleagues who:
  • listen to your ideas
  • share valuable information and insight with you
  • support you when you’re trying to influence
  • champion you and your contributions
The relationships you have with your network are two-way, which means your colleagues can expect the same from you.

What makes a good network?

A strong network will open you up to new viewpoints, opportunities and experiences.
Think about your network. Now ask yourself:
  • Does it include your key stakeholders?
  • Is it diverse and made up of colleagues from different backgrounds and with different perspectives?
  • Does it include colleagues from a broad mix of functions?
  • Is it powerful – can you help each other to grow?
If the answer to any of these questions is ‘no’, here are some things you can do:
  • Find things in common with colleagues outside your existing network
  • Show a (genuine) interest in other people’s activities
  • Look for ways to help others and anticipate their needs
  • Bridge your networks by putting people in touch with each other
  • Be intentional – make time to develop your network and book it in your calendar
  • Form a virtual networking group and meet up regularly

Remember to be supportive. You should make people feel good that they talked to you, so give back – and don’t keep score!

A final pep talk

Your personal brand is the unique combination of values, skills and experiences that make you ‘you’.
So, you know what you need to do to take charge of your career. It’s almost time for kick-off. Before you go, here are a few tactics to help you out there:
  1. Set your goals - take the time to think about what’s important to you. What’s your personal definition of success?
  2. Run your own race... Don’t compare your career journey with other people’s. It’s not about who’s best; it’s about how you can get better.
  3. …at your own pace - there’s no set pace so be patient. All careers have periods of growth and consolidation.
  4. Be flexible - our needs may change over time and that’s okay. There will be trade-offs.
  5. Go for it! Work out what you need to do to achieve your goals and be brave. If it feels scary and uncomfortable, you’re probably on the right track!

Remember… you’re in charge of your career

Next section: Team coach
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