To advance your career, you must use the skills and resources you have to reach your career goals and enter more challenging positions. You can pursue promotions within your company, advance to more prestigious companies, build skills, and start a business or become an industry expert.
How to Advance your Office Career
Determine Your Idea of Success
We all have a different opinions on what success is. Some want to be executives, while others want a flexible schedule and work-life balance. Consider your core values and what jobs embody these values. Where do you want to work? How many hours per week?
Set Your Long-Term Goal
Now, you have an idea of what success is to you. It is time to set your end goal. Use this goal to build a career plan. Be sure to write down your long-term goal and track your progress. A career counselor might help advise you on a long-term pursuit.
Explore Career Paths
Now that you have your long-term goal, it’s time to research corresponding career paths. You might read about the careers of individuals you consider successful, look up your dream role and read the requirements.
Get a Mentor
Mentors offer multiple benefits. These essential guides can help you understand your industry and offer career advice. Mentors can help you:
- Discover your strengths
- Revise your career path as you proceed
- Find career resources
- Motivate you
Find a mentor through professional organizations, connections with supervisors, relationships with instructors or a networking platform.
Education
Set educational goals if they help you meet your long-term goals. Ways you can build credentials for career advancement include:
- Professional certifications
- Certificate programs
- A college degree
- A trade school degree
- Professional development course
Volunteer for Leadership Opportunities
Managers seek individuals with leadership skills. They also prioritize them for advancement opportunities. This engagement with leadership opportunities can help to prepare you for management or other senior-level roles.
Create a Strong Network
It is helpful to develop relationships with people within your industry. Networks give you contacts for career opportunities, help you stay current on trends, and provide insight into individual companies, giving you an advantage when applying for new roles.
Interviewing for Information
Informational interviews are a great way to learn about advancing your career. You can also make meaningful industry connections at the same time. Try to arrange a conversation with someone whose career you wish to emulate.
Communicate Your Intentions With Your Manager
It helps if you share your intentions with your manager, as they can help you by offering related projects or clients. They might prioritize you for promotions or other career development opportunities if you do well at work.
Ready for Something New?
If you are feeling stagnant in your career, perhaps it is time to let the professionals at Wood Personnel Services help you find satisfying work that advances your career.
