Whether starting in the corporate world or working for an NGO, career advancement is a natural progression. An entry-level job is the basis of your development in a particular field. However, you need to plan your career goals actively, take more responsibility, and be sincere about your work. Perhaps a career road map to guide you throughout the process can provide the necessary motivation and tools to advance your career. Here are some tips to help you focus on career development and feel satisfied with your growth.
Define your career mission and pursue it
A happy professional is one who understands their work and knows how they can do an excellent job at it. What are your goals for success? How are you going to pursue it? Perhaps you want to learn software for a coveted data analyst position in a reputable company or find a job that allows you to spend more time enriching your personal life.
Maybe you’re eyeing a CEO position in a company but need a few more qualifications. You can pursue an MBA online while you work your current job. How will you go about it? If you have questions to ask MBA admissions, you can do so through university portals. Having technical competence and knowing exactly what is expected of a role you’re eyeing can help you plan your next career move. Focusing on acquiring all the education, skills, and experience and building a professional network in the industry will help you progress faster.
Set a timeline for your goals
Now that you have established some of the goals to help you actualize your dream career, you need a timeline to achieve them. A timeline is like a long-term schedule that will keep you accountable and on track.
Create a checklist of your goals and allot the time you will need to achieve them. See how long-term and short-term goals pan out and break them down accordingly. For example, if you want to get a certification before making a career jump, will it take six months? Add that to your timeline as a long-term goal while maintaining the smaller goals that pertain to your current job. In a way, your current job is a learning experience for your eventual goal. Use the present to build on the future.
Moreover, consider the steps you will need to take to reach the next level in your career. Do you see growth in your current job? Is there someone in your network that can help you? Take your time deciding on a timeline, and analyze your goals before moving forward.
Look for feedback
You don’t have to work on advancing your career all on your own. Take advantage of your peers and supervisors when making any decisions; their insight can help you assess whether you’re on the right path. That will also mean keeping a cordial and friendly relationship at your workplace.
Also, many businesses have lately started to implement a career progression plan, a structured approach that doesn’t only benefit individual employees but also fosters a supportive environment for professional growth. It can assist you in synchronizing your own, personal goals with your company goals, improve alignment, communication and outline the steps for progression within your company.
Help out your peers when you can and create a healthy environment at your workplace. Ask them to judge your strengths and weaknesses. Is there anything specific they think you should work on? If you’re in a managerial position, ask your subordinates for critique. Diversify your sources of feedback so you can examine yourself more holistically.
Keep tracking your progress
As you complete a goal or achieve a milestone, see if you’re progressing at the rate you expected to. Perhaps you can develop a system to monitor and track your progress through planners, online reminders, or apps.
Maybe you can ask a friend to track your progress with you. You can hold each other accountable for your specific goals and motivate each other if one lags. However, keep going back to your planner to ensure you’re taking the steps you had planned to advance in your career. If need be, reassess your goals and performance to see if any adjustments could help with your progress.
Befriend your manager
Of course, this does not mean you start sharing personal details of your life with your manager but have a professional, friendly relationship with your manager. You might not realize it, but there are many opportunities for advancements in the business world. You might not know the right people to ask.
Have regular chats with your manager, tell them about your goals, and show your excitement for achieving them. See how they can help steer some opportunities your way, especially if they’re in the same field. The goal is to put yourself out there and become noticeable. If there is an opening or an opportunity, the first person they contact is you.
Develop conflict management skills
Wanting to progress in your career is never smooth sailing. You will encounter storms that need to be weathered. However, you must condition yourself to believe conflict is alright and expected. The more you’re comfortable with the idea, the easier you’ll deal with it, especially if you’re an ambitious person.
You can learn conflict management techniques. These are skills that are innate or come to you naturally. Instead, learning them takes time and effort, but you can tackle the most challenging situations and become a victor when you have mastered resolving problems. Check out available resources online, or have your supervisors recommend books or seminars for you to watch.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, there isn’t just ONE thing that can help you advance your career. You need a good network of people willing to help, healthy relationships with peers and supervisors, the skills to advance, and the motivation or drive to achieve your goals for success. The path will not be straightforward. You might even have setbacks but be flexible enough to take it in stride and focus on the bigger picture.
