5 Tips For Reclaiming Your Career Finding Happiness - Work It Daily

5 Tips For Reclaiming Your Career Finding Happiness - Work It Daily This post is part of the Professional Independence Project series. Which one describes your morning more accurately? a) Waking up excited to head into work and do what you love. b) Waking up dreading work and seriously considering calling in sick. If the second scenario sounds more like you, it’s time for a change, don’t you think? Related: 4 Ways To Take Ownership Of Your Career Here are five tips for reclaiming your career and finding career happiness: 1. Figure out what the heck is causing the problem. What is it that you HATE about your job? Why do you DREAD going to work? Is it the work itself or the people you work with? Is it a specific task or a specific individual who makes your life miserable? Once you determine the stressor/misery-causer, you can take steps to fix/eliminate the problem. 2. Manage up! I’m sure you’ve heard this term before, but what the heck does it mean to “manage up” anyway? Well, it means that you need to step it up a little bit with your work, and go above and beyond what you’re being asked to do. Managing up will help others recognize your value within the organization, making you an asset. By going the extra mile with your work, you take stress off of your manager/boss, which can help you build a better working relationship with him/her. Remember, your job is to make your boss’s job easier. If you’re not doing that, you’re not doing your job â€" and you’re not showing your value as an employee. 3. Attend workshops seminars. Find some local workshops and seminars that will help you enhance your skills. By attending these events, you not only will learn new, valuable skills, but you will prove that you are willing to take that extra step in order to get ahead. Figure out what areas you feel you should improve â€" Do you need better time management skills? Would it help you to learn the HTML basics? Maybe you just want to brush up on your business writing or public speaking skills. There are workshops and seminars for everything! 4. Find a mentor. It’s always nice to have a little extra guidance and support. Find someone who has extensive experience in your field and ask them if they would mind being your mentor. They can provide valuable insight and contacts that will help you get ahead. Not sure how to find a mentor? Read this article for some tips! 5. Get out there and meet the RIGHT people! If you really want to take control of your career, you need the right people in your corner. Are you going out there and meeting the right people? Although networking with people outside of your industry has its benefits, it’s important to have a focused networking strategy that builds a solid network of contacts. There are several ways to connect with the right contacts. Here are a few: Attend industry-specific events (don’t have to be networking events!) Join industry-specific organizations and clubs Use keywords and hashtags to find potential contacts on Twitter and LinkedIn Check out an article I wrote on connecting with relevant contacts on Twitter! Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!