Finding a good job can be incredibly difficult and just because you do, it does not mean that the hard part is over. For many people, the problem of advancing in their careers is a tricky situation to handle. After all, you can’t exactly walk into your supervisor’s office and say, “I want a promotion” – well, you can, but we cannot promise it will end well for you.
Instead of falling into the dream rut, where you spend your time wistfully dreaming of the day you move up, you need to take accountability and you’re your advancement happen. You need to look at your career as a chance for you to do whatever it is that makes you feel fulfilled and then do it well. Do it so well that you stand out. Of course, that is easier said than done, so here are some tips on things that you can do to help facilitate an upward trajectory in your career.
Be Prepared With the Right Tools
First of all, you can’t impress anyone if you don’t have the right gadgets. Meaning, if you inherited your computer from a friend who ended up upgrading to a better one, you should probably upgrade as well. Look into an HP business laptop, as it will better support your lifestyle and the career that you want. You will be a lot more impressive to your boss when you get through tasks quicker and are always on-hand to send off a file via email.
Get Yourself a Mentor
News flash, mentors are not just for struggling students. Having a mentor can seriously help you stand out from the crowd and move up in your company. Pick one who is in a position similar to one you would like to be in, someone who impresses you and who you would like to emulate. Having this person in your life to help guide you is a serious asset, as you can ask them questions and get some much-needed advice. Plus, you never know who might be a valuable contact to have and they might be able to really help you get to where you want to be.
Work on Impressing Your Boss
This might seem obvious, but not a lot of people really think about the things that they can do to stand out from their coworkers. It might be blatant, like asking for more responsibility, or it might be super subtle, like simply checking in on a project before you take your lunch break. Nothing goes unnoticed, so your boss is a lot more likely to notice your hard work when they see you always offering to help your coworkers and always taking on tasks that no one else wants to do.
You also need to be very detail-oriented. Things slip through the cracks all the time, but if you make a habit of staying on top of email and tasks (even those that you aren’t doing), you might catch something that didn’t get done. We don’t want you to snitch and get people in trouble, but just being a good coworker is enough to get noticed in the right ways. Not good at staying on top of to-do lists? Utilize apps like Easynote and Trello, as they streamline tasks for you and help you keep everything organized.
Stay Professional
We get it, some office environments are casual, but you need to always reme78mber that you are at work and act accordingly. Just because you get to wear jeans does not mean you should be showing up to work looking like you rolled out of bed. You also need to be careful with how you speak, as you should always be on your best behavior.
Wet Up When You Mess Up
One of the biggest ways you can impress someone is to take accountability and own up to your mistakes. It might be difficult to do at first, as no one likes admitting when they are wrong (especially when you fear the repercussions), but by owning up to your mistakes makes you look mature. It tells those around you that you are trustworthy, competent and are likely to be able to learn from mistakes.
Never Stop Learning
Learning doesn’t stop once you graduate college and it shouldn’t stop no matter how high in a company you might get. This is why doctors are always reading the most recent medical studies and why lawyers are always keeping up with advancements in law. By learning as much as possible, especially in ways related to your field, you are showing that you are passionate and eager to grow. For instance, if your company helps pay for any sort of further education (such as certifications and seminars related to your industry), mention to your boss that you would like to sign up, so you can contribute even more to the team.
By doing the above, you will definitely stand out in the best way and will be a lot more likely to advance in your career!
