If you're looking to make positive changes to your career, there are a number of ways to put yourself on the right path. Here are five suggestions to consider.
1. Exceed Expectations
One of the best ways to guarantee that you'll excel in your career is to constantly do more than the job requires, often called “giving 110 percent.” Be willing to stay a little later to finish an important project. Volunteer to help on a committee, while co-workers might be looking for excuses to get out of the extra work. If your superiors notice your commitment to the job, you'll be more likely to receive a promotion. However, if they don’t, it might be time to look for other job opportunities.
2. Further Your Education
Going to school and earning degrees can help you get work in a particular field, but the career benefits of extending your education don't end there.
"Getting advanced certifications isn’t just about adding credentials to your resume," explains SharpSpring's Lisa Rios.1 "You are also learning valuable skills that you can apply to your day-to-day job. This can help you become better at regular tasks that might otherwise be time-consuming. You can also take on new responsibilities that you once weren’t qualified for. This is a really valuable way to get promotions and advance your career. Continuing education can help you improve job performance. You’ll also have special skills your colleagues don’t, helping you stand out from the crowd when it’s time for the boss to give out a promotion. Hard work is only one important part of climbing the career ladder. Learning new skills can make it easier to get more work done and do a better job overall."
3. Stay Active on LinkedIn
It's a good idea to stay active on LinkedIn, and not just when you're looking for a new job. Network with people in your industry. Engage with their posts and build your professional network. When the time comes that you need to make a career change, you may find yourself with many more options, particularly if you build up enough respect within that network. Be genuine, share interesting content, and establish an authoritative voice. If you need to find a new job, it may be someone in your network who happens to be looking to hire, or they may have someone they know they can connect you with.
4. Budget for Your Career
Don't overlook the financial aspect of developing your career. From college tuition to a professional wardrobe, investing in yourself will have upfront costs.
"It can feel daunting to consider building the career you want when you imagine the financial resources involved in getting there," says Nancy Solari at Entrepreneur.2 "Starting to budget your money immediately is the best way to be proactive for your future. Ask yourself if your career will require funds to acquire equipment, take educational courses, or travel. Once you have a big picture of the monetary aspects, you can begin to budget. You might start by making a habit to deposit a fixed amount of money into a dedicated business account at the end of each week. Or you can consider whether bringing in a partner to alleviate some costs would align with your vision."
5. Seek Feedback
Actively seek feedback on your job performance. Don't wait until you're up for a formal evaluation. Show your boss that you care enough to want to know how you can improve and help the company. This will help you make the type of improvements that can benefit you in the ways described earlier. Don't just seek feedback from your boss. Ask your co-workers for advice on ways to improve. Ask customers or even outside parties who are informed about your industry. Social media is great for having useful conversations privately or even publicly, depending on the nature of the subject.
If you always strive to improve your work performance, seek feedback on how to do so, and bolster your education and professional network, you can make seriously positive changes to your career. Keep the financial cost of any drastic changes in mind as you make your plans.
1. https://sharpspring.com/blog/7-benefits-of-continuing-education-throughout-your-career/
2. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/428845
The information provided is presented for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal or business advice. Any views expressed in this article may not necessarily be those of Nevada State Bank. Nevada State Bank is a division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Member FDIC