Are you pushing your career in finance forward?
Do you feel stuck in your finance career? Here are six things that will help you push your career forward.
If there’s one thing that too many people suffer from at work, it’s the frustration that comes with stagnation. Feeling as though you’re stuck in one place is hard; human beings have an innate desire to move forward and push themselves towards bigger and better things.
This means that being stuck in the same place for years can leave us feeling deeply unsatisfied. And this applies as much to the financial services industry as any other.
The truth is that a career that moves forward to better things isn’t something that is just going to magically happen to you. If you want your career in finance to progress then you’ve got to be willing to put in the time and effort required to make that happen.
The issue for many people, however, is that they simply don’t know where to start. They’re not sure what they should be working towards, how to get there and can even be scared to want better things for themselves in case they’re not capable of achieving them.
These kind of worries can cause your career to stall, and ensure that you never reach the level you aspire to – or have the potential to achieve.
Luckily, there are things you can do to overcome these barriers, and work confidently towards the goals you aspire to achieving. Here are six things that will help you to push your finance career forward to the next level.
1) Training
One way to end up stuck in a rut when it comes to your career is to assume that you already have all of the skills that you need and that you already know everything there is to know.
The truth is that, no matter how high up the ladder you climb, there is always more for you to learn. This is especially true in a sector like finance where new methods and techniques are continually emerging.
If you have a career path in mind, then getting dedicated training in that direction will give you a significant advantage. Not only does it equip you to actually handle the responsibilities involved, but it also means that you’ll be better qualified, and will be far more likely to get the attention of potential recruiters and employers.
2) Ambition
A common mistake that holds many people back is limiting the scope of what they’re willing to imagine for themselves. They assume that there is an upper limit of what they’re capable of achieving or reaching.
And in a way there is – but it’s only the upper limit they are setting for themselves, by assuming there is one!
So not only are they unintentionally sabotaging their own potential, but they risk being overlooked for opportunities and promotions as result. Because employers are more interested in someone who’s willing to push themselves forward and progress than someone who’s willing to stay in the same place for the rest of their life- and they’re more likely to invest time and money in these employees, and help them to advance their careers.
If you want to make more of your career then it’s time to start being more ambitious. The financial sector can be incredibly competitive so it’s important that you’re always willing to push yourself to the front of the pack. Being realistic is important, of course, but it’s always a good idea to give yourself the chance to have some serious ambitions as well.
3) A goal to work towards
One of the most common roadblocks you can come up against when trying to move your career forward is that you don’t have anything that you’re working towards. And without a clear goal in mind, you’re never going to be able to know the right direction to go in.
This almost always leads to wasted time and frustration as you expend your time and energy in the wrong places. Instead, the key is to set concrete goals and focus your energy on those.
This applies both to short-term goals and to the more long-term, broader ambition that you’re working towards.
4) The right priorities
One of the biggest challenges that can scupper your career ambitions is finding a way to balance your priorities. Your career doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Instead, it constantly interacts with, affects, and is impacted by all other aspects of your life.
It’s important to understand where your priorities lie, and how your career fits into those priorities. So you can shape a career that meets your ambitions and fits into your life – so you’re not constantly feeling torn.
5) Helpful resources
Trying to find a new path for your career can be an isolating and difficult process for some. However, it’s important to remember that you don’t need to deal with these kinds of things entirely by yourself. The key is to find the right resources.
Professional networks, such as industry associations or online communities, will help you connect with like-minded individuals and gain insights from their experiences. Another type of resource is career counseling or coaching services, which can provide personalized guidance and help you identify your strengths, weaknesses, and goals.
Accelerating a career in finance often requires specific qualifications or certifications, preparing for exams related to those qualifications. Practice exams, study guides, and online resources like Series 7 practice questions by Career Employer can help you familiarize yourself with the exam format and content, and ensure that you are well-prepared to succeed.
There are plenty of services like Portafina Jobs that help people in the finance industry who are looking for fresh career paths. The right resources can support you as you set career goals and work towards them.
6) The willingness to overcome fear
But probably the biggest roadblock to achieving the career you really want is fear.
Many people are so afraid that they might fail, or find out that they’re not capable of the level of success they desire, that they just don’t try. It’s much safer to stay where you are than to risk failure.
But yes, while you’ll certainly avoid the risk of failure, you’ll also simply end up stuck where you are. And if that’s not satisfying you now, it’s not going to feel any better in three or five years’ time.
You’ll also have the disappointment and regret of watching other people pass you by on their own climb up the ladder. And see your peers achieving the goals you hoped would be yours.
So don’t let fear – or anything else – hold you back. Yes, you might not get exactly where you are hoping in your career, but you’ll certainly make more progress than doing nothing. And who knows? Maybe you really do have what it takes to go all the way? The only way to find out is to try…
