Having a job is great. It gives you security and a paycheck. But no matter how wonderful a position, chances are you will hit a wall. You’ll reach the stage where you are ready to progress and then surpass that moment until you feel like you have hit a dead end.
This often happens because the progression opportunities at your current job are not meeting your expectations. Perhaps the jobs available don’t spark your interest, or maybe you’ve been passed over for a promotion one too many times.
Climbing the career ladder can be tricky, but with this guide, you’ll make significant steps towards taking control of your future:
Make Opportunities for Yourself
If you have a great idea, bring it up and put yourself on the project. Do this before your managers have time to think about who should work on this new endeavor. It will give you greater experience and help situate yourself as someone valuable within the company.
Prove to Be Knowledgeable About Your Industry
Every industry has trends and every industry changes. By subscribing to newspapers, industry magazines, academic journals and podcasts, you can immerse yourself fully in your industry. You will know the latest trends, the theories that are emerging, what competitors are doing, and so much more. You will be the go-to for everything your employers need to know, and you can use that to position yourself higher on the career ladder.
Bring Your Employer in on Your Development
It’s a good idea to improve your qualifications on your own time, but it doesn’t showcase the hard work, time management and commitment to your employers. That is why it is a good idea to bring them in on your development.
With the right proposal, you can even see if they are willing to sponsor your qualifications. You could create a project proposal that would have yourself and a few other employees work towards their Green Belt Certification from Six Sigma, and in turn, the company’s projects can be streamlined, waste can be reduced, and overall, the processes involved can be improved and standardized.
Be an Active Member in Your Industry
Try to attend as many events in your industry as you can. Mentoring newcomers can pay off. Becoming friendly and familiar with those who organize these events can also benefit you. Being an active member means your face becomes familiar and you will have more opportunities opening up. It’s networking at its finest and is a must for anyone serious about their career.
Improve Your Image Offline and Online
You need to appear professional and knowledgeable, both offline and online. That means projecting an image that can be relied upon. In person, this can be done by practicing networking by attending events, so that you nail the perfect balance between knowledgeable and friendly. Online, however, means going through your entire digital history, deleting any accounts that are no longer in use, hiding private information and, of course, establishing your online persona as one that is experienced and professional.
