How to evaluate and evolve your veterinary nursing career

Progression is the process of developing or moving towards a more advanced state . At times , progression can feel slow and it can be difficult to recognise , so carrying out regular career progression assessments can keep you on track towards reaching your goals . There are several methods of evaluating your career progression .

• Reflect on your goals – start by revisiting the goals you set when you began your career and those you ' ve set along the way . Are you still aligned with these goals or have they evolved over time ?

• Review your achievements – reflect on your key accomplishments so far , both big and small , and consider how they align with your goals and how they ' ve helped you progress .

• Assess your skills development – evaluate how your skills have developed . Have you acquired new skills or improved existing ones , and do your skills directly benefit your desired career path ?

• Obtain feedback from others – seek the opinions of colleagues , mentors or supervisors . They can provide insights into your strengths and potentially suggest areas in which you could improve .

• Maximise performance reviews – if your workplace conducts performance reviews , take the opportunity to discuss your progression . Be proactive in seeking feedback and discussing your goals .

• Network and connect – engage with professionals in your industry to gain insights into career progression opportunities . Attend industry events , join professional organisations and connect with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn .

• Optimise continued learning – assess whether you ' re pursuing opportunities for continued learning and development , such as formal education , certifications , workshops or conferences .

• Gauge job satisfaction – reflect on your overall job satisfaction ; are you fulfilled in your current role or do you want further growth and advancement ? Your level of satisfaction can be a good indicator of whether you ' re progressing in the right direction .

• Think long-term – consider where you see yourself in the future and whether your career trajectory aligns with your long-term aspirations . If not , identify the adjustments you need to make to steer your career in the desired direction .

• Seek opportunities – be proactive in seeking out new opportunities for growth and advancement in your current organisation or elsewhere – for example , new projects , specialisms or leadership roles .

• SWOT up on your yourself – carry out an assessment of your strengths , weaknesses , opportunities and threats ( known as a SWOT analysis ). Examples of the kind of evaluative questions to consider are given below .

Strengths What do I like to do ? What talents and abilities do I have that others do not ? What qualities do people think I possess ? Opportunities How can my network assist me in advancing my career ?

How can my abilities meet the demands of the field I wish to work in ?

Is there a big change in the industry I can benefit from ?

Weaknesses What has prevented me from completing my tasks ? What should I work on to reach my goal ? What negative habits do I have ? Threat Does my personality conflict with my work goals ?

Are my competitors in the same position or performing better than I am ?

Are there any skills my rivals possess that I lack ?

For advice on employment matters , contact the BVNA Members Advisory Service ( BMAS ) at advisoryservice @ bvna . co . uk .

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