“Don’t let life randomly kick you into the adult you don’t want to become.” – Chris Hadfield
Whether you are just getting started in your career or have been working at it for decades, there are always things you can do to help develop your skills and move up the ladder. No matter what type of industry you are working in, being on the lookout for these opportunities can help you to advance and succeed.
4 Effective Ways to Boost Your Career at Every Stage
1. Always Learn New Skills
To be as successful as possible in your career, you never want to rest on your laurels and tell yourself “I have learned everything possible.” Instead, constantly be on the lookout for opportunities to gain new skills and/or hone the ones you already have. For example, if you are interested in learning new business, sales and marketing skills and are looking for some first-hand experience, you might consider becoming a direct seller for an established company like Amway. Sign up for the online Amway Education program and learn about the process of effectively growing your new business. The in-depth curriculum includes 80-plus virtual courses and activities that will guide you in your journey as an independent business owner. You can then use the skills you learn working for Amway in your regular 9-to-5 job, as well as in your side gig as an independent business owner.
2. Consult with Your Manager or Your Mentor
Another effective way to develop your career is to go straight to the top at work and ask that person for feedback and advice. Start by taking an honest look at your various skills and decide where you are strongest, and where you could use some additional experience and what you want to learn the most. Then, make an appointment to speak with your manager and see what she has to say about your self-assessment and how much weight she gives to each area of your expertise. For the areas where you agree you could learn more, ask about opportunities to attend seminars, trade shows or training sessions to really boost your knowledge and value as an employee.
3. Always Look for Opportunities to Network
A strong career network is not only important when getting a job, but also for moving up the corporate ladder. Work on career networking, which involves making professional, personal and academic contacts who you stay in touch with and can turn to for help with advancing your career.
LinkedIn is a great place to start your professional networking; you might find that engaging in conversations with some of your connections will lead to a new business opportunity.
When building your networking group, focus on connecting with anyone who can assist you with a career move. This includes former and current bosses and co-workers, alumni from your school, friends who work in a similar industry, colleagues you meet at business functions and more.
4. Make SMART Goals Along the Way
To move up in your industry, whether it’s your first week on the job or you just celebrated your 10-year anniversary with the company, always focus on making SMART goals. In this case, SMART means Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time Bound steps to develop your career. For example, identify specific goals that can be easily measured and are attainable, as well as relevant to your work and try to complete them in a certain amount of time.
Developing your career and succeeding in whatever line of work that you have chosen is not impossible by any means. With a combination of looking for new educational opportunities, assessing your strong and weak points and a strong interest in networking, you will find yourself moving up the corporate ladder in no time.