Are you looking for ways to increase your career success? Here are 9 Underrated Ways to Increase Career Success
9 Underrated Ways to Increase Career Success
It would be nice if everyone could effortlessly have a successful career. Alas, that’s not the case. The working world has changed significantly in the past few decades, and while it’s very much possible to have a satisfying career, you’ll need to work at it. Ideally, you’ll have a solid foundation for success in the working world, such as a college degree and some experience.
From there, it’s all about doing the things that can help nudge your success in the right direction. In this post, we’ll look at some effective but often underrated tips that anyone can adopt, and which might just have a big long-term impact.
Maintain Work/Life Balance
Maintaining a healthy work/life balance is an underrated way to strengthen your career. While there are times when you will have to — and should — grind to work hard, as a general approach to work it’s best to ensure that you’re well-rested and doing things outside of work. Workers who push themselves to the limit may get ahead on a short-term basis, but it’s not a useful long-term strategy. Your career is a marathon, not a sprint. Additionally, working too much can lead to stress and burnout, both of which are on the rise, which can lead to career problems.
Understand Yourself
Most people have a good understanding of their skill set and how they can apply those skills to their professional lives. But it’s worth keeping in mind that skills and talent are only one component of career success. After all, your qualifications and professional skills won’t impact, say, how you interact with other people. Doing the work to have a better understanding of yourself and how you respond to different situations can provide a subtle yet impactful career advantage. This can be difficult to do on your own, but there are tests, such as the Firo-B test, which can give a clear understanding of how you relate to other people. Once you have this information, you’ll understand your strong and weak points, helping you to know the working dynamics that work for you, and which don’t.
Pursue Growth Opportunities
Good companies actively want to invest in their employees and should make growth opportunities available. However, while companies can provide the framework for growth, it’s you who will actually have to do it. It’s worth investigating which professional development programs are available at your work and then speaking to your supervisors about undertaking them. This has a couple of different advantages. One is that you will, of course, learn new skills that can make you better equipped to develop your career. The other is that you’ll be showing a commitment to your career and industry as a whole, which can demonstrate to present and future employers that you’re willing to go above and beyond.
Stay Up to Date With Your Industry
Your job is unlikely to exist in isolation. It’ll form part of a wider sector and industry. Keeping up to date with what’s happening in your industry can help to improve your career in a variety of ways, including keeping you abreast of any potential changes that may impact your role. This is especially true in highly dynamic and continuously evolving industries, such as the technology industry. By following industry leaders, reading industry magazines and websites, and just generally showing an interest in what’s happening, you’ll have your ear to the ground and will be able to pivot your career in advance of any changes.
Willingness to Move
Sticking to one company can work sometimes, but in general, it’s usually best to move to new employers from time to time — or at least be willing to move. Studies have shown that people who move end up earning more money than those who stay in the same role, but there are more benefits to moving than simply padding your bank account. It can help to keep stagnation at bay. While it’s good to feel comfortable in your job, it’s a mistake to become too comfortable. Moving to a new company or pursuing a more senior role can help to keep things challenging and moving forward.
Reach Out to Others
No one ever reaches the top of their field or enjoys career satisfaction without the help of others. If you’re unsure of how to move your career forward, or you just want to make connections that may help in the future, then look at proactively reaching out to people in your field whom you admire. Professionals who have already found career success can be an invaluable source of inspiration and advice, allowing you to make your next move secure in the knowledge that it’s been well-vetted by someone who has been there, done that.
Consider Leveling Up Skills
You may have enough skills and qualifications to do your current work, but what about the job that you want to have? It takes time and effort — and often a fair amount of money — to sign up for a course that will push your career forward. However, it’s worth doing because, well, it can help push your career forward.
The type of course you complete will depend on your industry and the type of role you want to work in. It’s recommended to look at jobs that are in the next level above your current job and see what qualifications they ask for.
Realize When Something Isn’t Working
Finally, remember to listen to yourself and identify when something isn’t quite working. It’s worth powering through hard work — you won’t get anywhere without it — but if you’re fundamentally not excited about the journey you’re on, then it’s OK to change directions. It can be a little scary to shift gears and do something new, but ultimately it’ll be worth it. After all, career success isn’t based solely on the amount of money you earn or things like that. It’s based on your own personal satisfaction. Make decisions that are right for you, and you’ll feel like you’ve won regardless of what you end up doing.
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