BY
Kitty Holman
As readers of this site can probably attest, self-reflection through journaling can and does help us in our aims of self-improvement. Journaling can help us be better romantic partners, better parents, and better, well-rounded people overall. Journaling can also help us improve our careers, whether we are looking to find a new career path or further advance along the current one we have chosen.
The important thing to understand about journaling in order to improve your career is that it is a very focused kind of journaling. Whereas everyday journaling can be about whatever comes to your mind, your goal with your career-related journaling is to focus on the most important aspects of your job: your current performance and activity, your short-term projects, and your long-term goals, and anything else you think is pertinent to your self-reflection.
So, as you set out to journal about your career, consider these two different scenarios and how your journaling can help you achieve success in either case: the job search, and climbing the ladder.
Job Search Journaling
When journaling about your job search, if you follow the above three-part template, you will want to open up each journaling session by reflecting on your day's job hunt. What did you do well today during your job search? For example, if you made a specific business contact, it might be good to reflect on how that meeting went. Likewise, if you failed to achieve some benchmark today, reflect on what caused you the trouble. For example, the journal could be a great way to work through your job search frustrations.
Then you could also use the journal to think about your weekly job search goals. You can use it to set weekly goals, such as how many applications you need to send out each week, and you can also use it to adjust those goals. Likewise, you can use it to write out answers to potential interview questions, if you get an interview.
Finally, you can write in the journal about what sort of jobs you would really love to get in the long-term future. This reflection can examine what skills you have, what sorts of tasks you like doing, and how you interact with others. You should reflect upon how those skills can translate into your dream jobs, and how they can translate into jobs you'd be willing to do, if you are offered one.
Journaling about Your Current Career
Just as journaling can help you during your job search, so too can it help you rise through your current career. Again, if you follow the three-part template above, you can make journaling work for you in the following ways.
Each evening come home and spend thirty minutes reflecting on your workday. Think about the work you accomplished that day. Were you productive? When were you at your best? When did you feel yourself fading? If you can be aware of the productive ups and downs of your day, you can begin to work to improve your weaknesses. Also consider interactions with your supervisors and co-workers. How did these interactions go? What was communicated well? What was confusing or frustrating? Your self-reflection can help you improve how you interact with others in the office.
You can also use the journal to work out how you will accomplish your various short-term projects in the office. What do you need to do in order to get the report done by your supervisor's deadline? Will you need to get it done a day early in order to go over it again? How are you going to motivate your team on this complex proposal? Use the journal to figure out these tough questions; you'll find yourself getting the harder thinking done before work, so you can get right to accomplishing what you need to do.
And finally, you can reflect on how you plan to grow your career. What are you five- or ten-year goals in your career? What do you need to be doing in order to achieve these goals? What sorts of attitudes make you a great businessman or woman? What personal characteristics do you need to work on in order to improve yourself so that you can realistically meet those goals? By constantly reviewing and journaling about your long-term plan, you can make sure you keep your eyes on the prize, so to speak.
About the Author
Kitty Holman writes on the topics of nursing colleges. She welcomes your comments at Kitty.holman20@gmail.com
Leave Comment