CAB 17. Have you started 2024 with a bang?

Or you are still at the starting line, not sure where to go

Author

Azhar Ahmad
January 14, 2024

Dear friends,

Today is already the 14th of January and the euphoria of the new year is over. Are you just back to the normal grind or your working day is more with a purpose?

I hope that it is more with a purpose as you work towards your career goal.

If you still don’t have a career goal, then let me try and help you using these questions

  • What job do you want to be doing in 5 years time?

  • Where do you want to work in 5 years time? Malaysia? Asia? Europe? America?

  • Which company do you want to work for?

For example, let's say for an MSL (Medical Science Liaison) in my team, they might have a 5 year career goal of becoming a

  • Global Medical Advisor

  • In the global office in Germany (our HQ is in Germany)

  • Still with the same company

Having a 5 year career goal will help you in setting the direction of where you want to go. 

It’s a bit like when you use google map, you need to put in the destination of where you want to go and then google map will give you the direction and along the way there will be adjustments according to the situation.

Once you know what your 5 year career plan is, then you need to self-assess your current PIE (Perfomance, Image & Exposure). 

How is your performance, your image in the company, your networking and exposure in the company.

You can read about how important career PIE is here. https://doktoraz.beehiiv.com/p/big-career-pie

Rate yourself between 1-10 for each element of the P-I-E.

Once you have your self-rating then think about how you can improve your PIE. How you want to make your PIE more delicious.

For example, what can you do to make your performance even better. What kind of special project can you do that would be beneficial to the company and really showcase your capabilities in your area?

And for your image, how can you improve it further so that people will notice you more and can see that you are getting ready for the next-level job? Do you need to get your first ever tailored-suit? Do you need to ditch your casual approach to work clothing and start looking more like a manager?

As for exposure, are you making sure that the decision makers and their influencers know you and the good work that you have done? Have to think not just the immediate bosses, but also beyond because normally a lot of informal discussions take place when deciding about a promotion

All this then become your career plan tasks for 2024!

Ok if all that feels a bit overwhelming, let me summarise what you need to do:

1- Set a 5-year career plan

2- Think about where you are currently in terms of performance, image, exposure

3- List down action points to improve your performance, image, exposure

Once you have all this written down, then you will have a more purposeful working days.

Doktor Az

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You need a 5 year career plan to guide your journey

1- Set a 5-year career plan

2- Think about where you are currently in terms of performance, image, exposure

3- List down action points to improve your performance, image, exposure

Career Autobahn Workshop

Module 1 & 2 have already taken place last weekend.

Module 3 & 4 about presentation and networking skills are still open.

Saturday 27th January 9am-5pm

Module 3 - How to be an Engaging Presenter

Module 4 - How to Network Like a Pro

Location is at Iconik Co-working Space in Petaling Jaya.

Price is RM50 per module to cover logistical cost.