If you want advancement in your career, you need to know that it takes strategic, persistent effort, and continuous self-improvement. When you are starting out on the bottom step or looking to move up in ranks, there are 6 strategies and tactics you can use to gain momentum in your professional pursuit.
By Team Savant
Image: Igor Omilaev
Invest in Learning (Yes, Even After School)
Your education shouldn't stop once the graduation cap gets flipped up in the air. The current workplace demands adaptability, and one way to make sure that your career future is looking rosy is by further developing your skill set. Take online courses, attend workshops or get certifications in the “hot” trends like AI, UX design or project management. Brag about your milestones on LinkedIn so your network notices your commitment and you may even catch the eye of some decision-makers.
Make Networking Your Superpower
Think networking is just a series of tedious corporate mixers? Think again. Networking is about cultivating relationships that inspire, challenge and support you. Whether on LinkedIn, at industry events with captivating speakers or professional groups online. Your goal should be more than collecting contact details and business cards. Listening more to what is said around you than talking is the secret ingredient. And make your network work for you.
Master the Art of Self-Branding
Your career is your business and it's time to market it like one. Create an online presence that showcases your expertise and distinct voice by writing articles, sharing insights or developing project case studies to demonstrate them. A personal website, blog or polished LinkedIn profile can all become your digital portfolios. This is no time to shy away from self-promotion, as being a master at self-branding will help advocacy for your career.
Look for Feedback, Not Flattery
Wanting to grow? That requires being ready to face some hard truths, which requires looking for constructive feedback from peers, managers and mentors on an ongoing basis. While harsh criticism might hurt, actionable critique is your golden ticket for improving your performance. Couple this feedback with some self-reflection so you can identify where you excel at, as well as areas for development. Showing you can accept feedback without getting your feathers rustled is proof you're serious about developing yourself.
Get Comfortable with Discomfort
Growth often happens when we step outside our comfort zones. Be brave and volunteer to lead meetings or projects outside your comfort zone. Accept challenging projects or present your ideas directly to senior leadership. It may be scary, and yes, you might falter, but these experiences provide important learning experiences in terms of resilience, problem-solving, leadership and confidence building. All very important skills that are necessary for your career advancement.
Build Cross-Disciplinary Skills
Modern workplaces rely heavily on collaboration, so acquiring skills that cut across various disciplines is a phenomenal asset to have in your deck of skill sets. If you work in marketing, do a data analytics basics course to boost your campaigns. Or if you're in software development, try honing in your communication skills so as to become the “must have” team player on projects. When you connect disciplines, you become a versatile and innovative professional that others can not not include.
Conclusion
Advance your career is hard work when you consistently apply effort, learn new things, and take calculated risks. Focus on developing your skills, network and personal brand so you're primed for the next big move. Be daring yet deliberate as success doesn't just happen by accident.