The new year is almost here and professionals across all industries will likely be setting their goals for 2019. This isn’t any different for nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs).
At NP PA Recruiters, we know that you have big plans for 2019, from changing jobs to advancing in your current career path. If you’re eager to take advantage of the new year, then consider propelling your career with the following tips.
Tips for Advancing Your Career in 2019
1. Set SMART goals at the beginning of the year.
In order to get where you want to go, you need a career roadmap of sorts. Setting SMART goals at the beginning of the year can help you to visualize every step of the process to advance your career.
Remember that SMART goals are:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Realistic
- Time-based
2. Develop your leadership abilities.
Advancing your career is generally synonymous with growing in responsibility and developing as a leader. Thankfully, there are plenty of programs and organizations that can help you to grow your leadership skills, critical thinking abilities, organizational skills, and ability to motivate your coworkers.
If the opportunity should arise, you’ll want to volunteer for any leadership roles at your current job. While it can be a challenge to have more responsibilities without greater pay, the experience will pay off in the long run.
3. Update your CV.
If you see yourself headed in a new direction in 2019, then now is the time to start gathering evidence that highlights your 2018 successes. You’ll want to use this information to update your CV and resume.
4. Take advantage of networking opportunities.
Networking has many benefits and yet it’s one of the most challenging actions to take for many professionals. While networking can take you out of your comfort zone, it can prove to be the perfect opportunity to exchange ideas and develop new perspectives on career challenges you may be facing.
Attend as many workshops, conferences, and webinars as possible. It might even be worth your time to network outside of your specialization.
5. Find a mentor.
Getting valuable insight – especially early on in your career – from an experienced NP or PA can be immensely beneficial in helping you to navigate the field. Learning about these real-life experiences can teach you valuable lessons you might not have picked up otherwise.
Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from an experienced peer or colleague.
6. Learn from your supervisors and head personnel.
Even if you don’t find a mentor, you can still learn from all the senior personnel around you. Observe how they handle priorities, make decisions, and navigate interpersonal relationships. These leadership skills can help to prepare for any advancement in your career.
7. Seek out additional certifications or take specialized courses.
One of the most engaging aspects of working as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant is the ability to specialize and take your career into an area better aligned with your interests. To advance your career in this manner, you’ll want to take advantage of any opportunities to further your education, including taking specialized certification courses or programs.
Advancement is often about getting out of your comfort zone to seek new knowledge and experiences. Furthering your education will help you to stand out as a candidate.
8. Take care of your health.
As a medical professional, you are fully aware of the importance of staying healthy. But the ability to do so can be a bit challenging when you are working long hours and handling other responsibilities.
Regardless, you should think of your health as one of your biggest assets. The healthier you are, the less likely you are to miss out on work (and vital opportunities) and the longer you’ll be able to maintain your career.
Eat healthily, exercise regularly, and get a good’s night sleep to keep your body in tip-top shape.
9. Work on yourself.
Aside from improving yourself on paper, you’ll want to work on your behavior and certain qualities that have been shown to impress bosses, including:
- Resilience
- Time-management skills
- Courage
- Focus
- Integrity
- Dependability
- Likability
10. Talk to NP PA Recruiters.
Everybody can use a little support when advancing their career. That’s why we have dedicated ourselves to helping nurse practitioners and physician assistants propel their careers to the next level.
Contact NP PA Recruiters today at (214) 351-3880 to see how we can help you. And don’t forget to check out our job board!