Lucas Noah Career advancement is a step-by-step procedure for attaining higher positions in your career. These higher positions include leadership positions, receiving a higher salary, and taking up added responsibilities. These advancement opportunities can provide a sense of personal fulfillment and job satisfaction.
When you understand how you can advance your career, you can then benefit from pursuing career development opportunities to gain new skills and setting clear goals. You will also be able to explore how to advance in your career by adopting a mindset for continuous learning, in order to make you remain updated with significant and relevant trends in your industry.
Where others may be struggling, your access to quality information and the employment of executive resume writing services to update your resume will help you solve problems associated with career advancement. In this article, we will be examining professional development tips that can enable you to advance in your career.
7 Professional Development Tips to Advance Your Career
Highlight What Success Looks Like to You
To advance in your career, find your definition of success first. It may be a coveted executive role or the career advancement that will allow you to spend more time with your family. Note that there is no right or wrong definition of success. What matters the most is you being able to define success for yourself and by yourself.
Reflect on what is currently the most important to you in your career, and what you want your career to look like in the future. Think long-term; it will enable you to define your version of success.
Establish Goals and Timeline
After you have defined what success looks like to you, the next thing is to swing into action. Take the time to draw out your career ambitions and identify your from/to.
Goals and timelines go hand-in-hand. Hence, using both together is a way you can achieve success. The goals you set give you what to strive for, while the timeline makes you accountable and stay on track to achieve those goals. To achieve bigger goals, however, you may need to break them down into smaller short-term goals.
Evaluate the steps you need to take to get to the next level in your career. Those steps include deciding on what skill you need to learn, who in your network you can walk up to that can assist you in developing, whether your current workplace can help you achieve your goals, etc.
With your desired career trajectory in mind, you will be able to identify the skills you need to cultivate, in order to get to the next phase of your professional journey.
Seek for Feedback
Feedback is a way you can measure your progress and ensure you are on the right track to achieving your goals. Get formal reviews from superiors. However, don’t limit feedback to only coming from your superiors. You should get feedback from your peers as well since they will be reviewing you from a different perspective and point of view.
Furthermore, discuss with your manager or employer to know what career possibilities exist within the company. You could share your career goals and aspirations with them to know if they can help you achieve them.
By discussing your goals with your employer, you are placing yourself on their radar. They may choose to offer you help and advice to achieve your goals. But if there are no opportunities for your career advancement in the company, it will be better you know soon enough.
Make Use of Your Network
One of the key ways to advance in your career is to have support and help from others. For all professionals, networking is indispensable. A survey conducted by LinkedIn in 2016 discovered that 85% of jobs are filled through networking.
For every stage of your career advancement process, tap into your network. Once you know your next step, look for people that are already in that role and get useful information from them. The more information you get, the clearer your action plan will be.
Take Initiative
There’s what is called impostor syndrome. It could creep into your psyche and tell you you’re not good enough and pass other negative messages across to you, emphasizing the fact that you will soon be exposed as the imposter that you are. Do not allow that voice to hold you back.
Rather, become more visible, say yes to opportunities that arise, get recognition for your enthusiasm, and get an appreciation for your skills and expertise. Based on research, the initiative is one of the top attributes of great achievers. To get ahead at work, choose to lead a critical project or help your company enhance its operations by developing more efficient work processes.
Proving your dedication to your manager or employer may inspire them to contribute to your career advancement goals.
Improve Your Learning
Leveling up your educational foundation can help boost your career. Committing your time and energy to professional development can have a direct impact on your salary expectations. Getting online certifications, exploring on-the-job training, and continuing education classes can also help you achieve your career advancement goals.
Explore Mentorships
Statistical research shows that employees with a mentor get more promotions and higher compensation than those without a mentor. Build a mentoring relationship with someone that has attained the level you desire. Seek help and guidance from professionals; their experience and success stories will help you avoid avoidable mistakes.
Nevertheless, be selective when choosing a mentor. That they hold (or have held) a high position does not mean they did the right thing. To make the relationship work, get someone you can respect and connect with.
Career Advancement
Your career development is a continuous process. This advancement means making choices, facing challenges, and gaining a never-ending learning experience. Nevertheless, remember that you can always update your goals. A career development path does not have to be a straight line from point A to B. So, don’t be too rigid in your career development process.