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Three things you should do for your career by the end of the year

Kate Allen, Executive Chair and Marketing Director, Allen Associates

It has somehow snuck up on us and we are reaching the final quarter of the year.

October to December is a really great time to knuckle down, smash your goals and analyse your career. Not only to measure up to your targets set by senior management, but to also benchmark yourself against your own goals, and ensure you have truly made the most of your 2018 year in Employment.

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It’s also a great time to analyse yourself, to ensure you’re fully on the pathway to success. Starting with…

Pitch that one idea your boss may say “no” to

Reflecting on the past year it is likely you have learned a lot about the business you are in. Perhaps you love the majority of processes in your day-to-day work life. However, as much as you love your job and company there are always little niggles that breed ideas for improvement.

Perhaps your idea is really outside of the box: a completely new CRM system, a potential re-brand or a huge Client that you would really love to pitch to. What is stopping you? Sure, your manager may say no, but that is the worst that can happen.

Putting forward new and innovative ideas that may not be at the forefront of your manager’s mind could also get more support than you think. The end of the year is the prime time for setting new business goals, reviewing systems and putting in place a budget for next year. So, go for it and pitch that great concept!

Put yourself first

When you’re working really hard to reach your end of year goals it can be easy to drop yourself as a priority. Lunch breaks become distant pursuits of the past, ‘home-time’ is an elusive concept and a bedtime without an email check… what even is that? Whatever downtime you need, be it a lunch-time yoga class, turning your emails off at the weekend or taking that underused holiday, remember that if you don’t give yourself any me-time, you can be highly susceptible to burn out and low productivity.

Additionally, you live in one of the most exciting cities in the world - be sure to give yourself time outside of work to enjoy it and explore London. Putting yourself first is sometimes necessary for the clear head you need to succeed.

Measure your satisfaction

Going hand in hand with putting yourself first, measuring your satisfaction is key to reflection. Look back on your goals, your year, each conversation you have had at work and analyse it. Are you springing out of bed in the mornings, eager to reach your desk and happy to be in the office? If the answer is no, there is nothing wrong with re-evaluating your options for 2019… new year, new………?


Whatever your situation or career, there is no time like the present to maximise your opportunities. Urge management for a review, see where you’re at and if you don’t see your career progressing in the right way you can always get in contact with Allen Associates who are always happy to help you source your next career.

Over the last 20 years, we have grown as a business to become one of the leading independent Recruitment agencies in Oxfordshire, and in 2018 opened our first London office, to service Clients in the capital.