Taking Control of Your Career: A Guide for Those Without Traditional Performance Metrics
In many jobs, performance is measured by clear metrics, like sales numbers or customer satisfaction scores. But what if your job doesn't have these traditional metrics, or your company doesn't have a system for reporting performance? How can you take control of your future career? This blog post will provide suggestions and examples to help you navigate this situation.
Understanding the Challenge
First, it's important to understand why this is a challenge. Without clear metrics or reporting, it can be difficult to demonstrate your value to your employer and future employers. You might know you're doing a good job, but how can you prove it? And how can you identify areas for improvement or set goals for your future career development?
Implementing Reporting
One solution is to implement some form of reporting yourself. This could involve setting your own performance metrics based on your job's specific tasks and responsibilities. For example, if you're a project manager, you might measure your performance based on the number of projects completed on time and within budget. If you're a writer, you might measure your performance based on the number of articles written or the traffic they generate.
Once you've set your metrics, you can track them over time and report them regularly. This will provide a clear performance record to integrate into your resume. It will also give you a basis for setting goals and identifying areas for improvement.
Tracking Performance Independently
If implementing reporting isn't an option, you can still track your performance independently. This could involve recording your tasks and achievements, collecting feedback from colleagues and clients, or reflecting on your performance in a journal or blog.
For example, you might record the tasks you complete each day, along with any challenges you faced and how you overcame them. You might also ask colleagues and clients for feedback on your work and record their comments. And you might reflect on your performance at the end of each day or week, noting what you did well and what you could improve.
This independent tracking can provide a valuable performance record, even if your employer does not formally recognize it. It can also help you to identify trends and patterns in your performance, which can inform your career development.
Other Suggestions
There are other ways to demonstrate your value and take control of your career, even without traditional performance metrics. For example, you might:
Take on additional responsibilities or projects to demonstrate your skills and initiative.
Seek out training and development opportunities to enhance your skills and knowledge.
Network with colleagues and industry professionals to raise your profile and learn from others.
Advocate for yourself by communicating your achievements and ambitions to your employer.
Put Into Practice
In a Forbes article titled "4 Non-Traditional Ways People Can Manage Their Careers Better", Glenn Llopis suggests four ways to manage your career:
Know Yourself Extremely Well: Understand your strengths and unique value propositions and leverage them in your work.
Live Your Values and Love What You Do: Align your work with your values and passions.
Unleash What You’re Most Passionate About Every Day: Align your responsibilities with your passions.
Allow Your Culture to Contribute to Your Career Success: Leverage your cultural heritage as a competitive advantage.
These strategies can be applied regardless of whether or not your job has traditional performance metrics. They involve taking a proactive approach to your career, understanding your strengths and values, and leveraging them to create opportunities. Now put these things in your resume to show your new employer the value you will bring to the job!
