Whether you have just started in a new role or have been working at the same level for a long time, there is no shame in wanting to progress as far as you can. There are lots of people who are content to do the bare minimum and watch the clock, but if you are someone who wants to achieve as much as possible, you know that keeping your head down is not an option. If you want to advance your CV writing and succeed within the company you are already working for, here are five tips to help you take your career to the next level.
- Help your boss to succeed
If you want a promotion and a salary increase, it is in your best interest to help your boss to succeed. If they get promoted, that will not only free up a position that you might be able to move into, but it will also show them that you are prepared to go the extra mile to help others. Find out what your boss wants to achieve and help them get there.
- Be part of the solution
One of the quickest ways to find yourself at the top of a redundancy list (or worse, sacked) is to be the human equivalent of deadwood. The employees that stand out from the crowd are those that put their hand up for the tasks that nobody else wants, who has creative ideas, and comes up with solutions to problems. Show your employer that you are not just a box-ticker but that you have unique qualities and talents that no one else can bring to the table. Do not wait around for someone else to come up with an idea – put your mind to the task and identify problems before they happen.
- Invest in your own learning
A common mistake that people make is to believe they have learnt all they need to when they leave school, college, or even university. There is always more to be learnt and new technology or software to be mastered. Read as much as you can, take part in skills workshops, and learn from people with more experience. If you want to progress into management, it is worth taking a leadership development course to ensure you have the theoretical and practical skills you will need to be an effective leader.
- Show others that you can be trusted
People who cannot be trusted to meet deadlines, to keep their word, stay within budget, and pull their weight on a project are unlikely to be popular. You need to show your customers, clients, colleagues, suppliers, and superiors that you can always be trusted and have solid integrity.
- Own your mistakes
No one is perfect, and it is highly likely that at some point you are going to make a mistake. It is vital, however, that you do not make a mistake worse by attempting to hide it or shift the blame to someone else. When you know that something has gone wrong, bring it to the attention of the team as soon as possible so that steps can be taken to mitigate the damage. Trying to hide a problem will not only make it harder to recover from but will also place a question mark over your credibility.
