May 5, 2022

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. This might seem like harsh advice, but it absolutely applies to your career. When you sit back and wait for things to happen, it will take much longer than forming a plan, working on steps, and making things happen for yourself.

If you’re getting antsy in your career and ready for a change, you can take small steps right now to get ahead. Try these seven techniques to advance your career:

  1. Define success. What does a successful career look like to you? It all depends on your values. Maybe you value financial stability, more freedom, work/life balance, or the ability to have an impact on the world. Everyone’s values are a little different, but when you understand yours, you’ll have a clearer idea of what you envision to be a successful career. And it’s easier to work towards a clear target.
  2. Set goals and steps. Once you know how to be successful, it’s time to set goals to get there. What can you learn, who can you connect with, and what can you do in order to advance your career? Set goals for yourself for this year, five years and ten years from now. Then, break them down into small steps you can start to work on one at a time.
  3. Work with people who know more than you. It’s not motivating to be surrounded by people who just don’t care—you can’t follow their example or learn from them. Instead, spend more time around people who are passionate, hard-working and better at their jobs than you. You’ll find yourself learning from them and rising to the challenge to be the best version of yourself.
  4. Take advantage of your mornings. First thing, before you find yourself giving your time away to anyone else’s agenda, work on your own. Write a to-do list the night before and include steps to work on your goals. Then each morning before even checking email, dedicate an hour or so to working on your career advancement.
  5. Learn something new. What new knowledge or skills will help you reach your goals? Make plans to learn those things. See if you employer offers any trainings or workshops. Also ask if tuition reimbursement is available.
  6. Add value to the company. When you’re indispensable, you gain job stability and improve your changes of advancement. Work hard, turn out high-quality end products, meet deadlines, lead coworkers, voice your opinion and ideas during meetings… in other words, provide endless value to the team.
  7. Ask for feedback and make improvements. Want to get better at what you do? Ask your supervisor or boss for constructive feedback, and then act on it. Take control of your performance, which will help you during annual performance reviews.

What about a new job?

If you’ve outlined your successful future and your current employment doesn’t fit into your career path, it’s time for something new. Check out Inter-Connect! To learn more, visit our job search page today!

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