Careers are funny things. Nothing can happen for years and then, all of a sudden, you have a massive breakthrough.
But how do you make progress in your career? What can you do, exactly, to move things forward and be successful? Understanding the way things are changing is a really good place to begin. AI is making such a difference across a range of industries and if you’re on top of it you might be able to add some skills to your arsenal so that you can also work with AI. And this is just one such example.
That’s the topic of this post. It explores some of the strategies and tactics you can use for incredible results, no matter what industry you’re in.
So, let’s dive in, shall we?
Stay Updated
Our first piece of advice is to stay updated. Being on-trend in your industry or work is one of the best ways to succeed.
The reason for this is that being on top in your career has less to do with what you do and more to do with how you can influence your peers and the people around you. If they view you as a leader, that’s naturally what you will become.
For this reason, staying updated and being a thought leader is an excellent strategy. Thinking about how you can move the needle and introduce colleagues to new concepts without seeming like a know-it-all is one of the best strategies out there for long-term success.
In healthcare fields especially, continuous learning in addition to professional development are a must if you want career growth. Exploring opportunities within nursing careers can often provide a pathway to specialization, leadership and making meaningful patient impact. Staying informed about advancements in medical practice will help you to remain competitive and effective in any role that you are tasked with.
Consider Pivoting
Another tactic is to pivot. While you might have had some success in your industry in the past, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will last forever.
For this reason, pivoting can be helpful. For example, you could move from conventional sales to SEO and website analytics courses or from accounting to AI. The trick here is to look at what the market wants right now and respond to it. People in high-demand positions often have higher pay and more secure jobs, allowing them to succeed long-term.
Getting into something like digital marketing is an excellent way to build relationships with companies and get your message out there. The more you can move strongly into an industry that allows you to continue building on your strengths, the better off you’ll be.
Just ensure you have the relevant transferable skills to bring with you. You want to carry these into your new job so you don’t wind up doing something that isn’t a good fit for you.
Seek Feedback
Part of giving your career a boost is also seeking feedback where necessary. While it can be difficult to listen to criticism, it is also critical in some lines of work where individual performance matters a lot.
You can get feedback by asking for it from your peers. Usually, they will tell you whether you’re on the right track and what you need to do to improve. The best people to ask are those who you personally respect for their competence and abilities. The more you request information from them, the better you’re likely to perform.
You can also do a spot of self-reflection. Sometimes, looking in the mirror and asking whether you’re doing everything you can to succeed is a great strategy.
Don’t overlook things like soft skills. Simply being warmer to people can often have a career-boosting effect and convince senior powers to give you more responsibility.
If you can combine warmth with competence, you’re in an even better position. These two traits are what people like most in the workplace and something you can work on as an individual.
Take On New Challenges
Another approach is to take on new challenges. Stretching yourself is often a way to test what you’re capable of doing and see whether you can take your abilities to the next level. Often, you don’t know what you can do until you try it, so leaping into the unknown is often a good idea.
Sure, it’s risky taking on new challenges–you could fail. But that’s often where you learn the most. When you can take these experiences with you, you’re much more likely to perform at a higher level in the future.
For example, you could start by volunteering for a high-impact project in your department. Taking on something that will make a significant difference to you and your colleagues is an excellent way to craft a personal brand within a firm and move yourself to the next rung on the career ladder.
You could also involve other departments if that’s something the C-suite wants to see more. If you can be the person who glues different segments of the business together, that will be something that the top team will appreciate and could earn you a far more significant promotion over time.
Make sure that while you’re engaging in these activities, you’re showcasing your skills. Again, you want to come across as affable, but also someone who can really get the job done. You’re not a pushover or everyone’s busybody, but instead an individual who can take action and get results.
Rebrand Yourself
You could also try rebranding yourself, especially if you’ve been moving horizontally between companies, without much vertical movement. For example, you could change your LinkedIn profile and ensure it’s up-to-date to reflect your recent achievements. Adding elements that give you a polished or professional image can help, especially if you’re currently doing an entry-level job and you want to move up.
You could also think about how you’re approaching personal branding and ask whether you’re doing enough to make yourself stand out from the competition. Sometimes, you can get stuck in a place where employers can’t really tell the difference between hiring you and someone else with a similar CV. A personal branding approach could prevent that from happening and help you move forward substantially.
One of the best ways to do this is to become a thought leader in your industry. If you can do things that set you apart from everyone else, then you’ll make yourself unique and someone that other people want to talk to and get to know.
Rebranding yourself doesn’t have to take much time either. It’s something you can do in a few hours to spare, especially if your primary presence is online.
Be More Strategic With Your Networking
Another strategy that often works for people is to be more strategic with networking. Joining clubs and associations that will help you brush shoulders with the people who matter will get you a long way.
For example, it’s often a good idea to go to conferences or industry-specific groups to meet people. Attending these events is an excellent way to learn more about who’s who and find individuals who can offer real opportunities.
The opposite of this is going on your dad’s recommendations of who to talk to. Usually, these suggestions will be irrelevant and best, and actually negative for your progress at worst.
If you can find a mentor, that’s even better. Networking with these individuals can introduce you to things you never thought possible, including how to manage your career from the ground up and the things you can do to progress in the industry, whatever that happens to be.
Mentors should be people with professional reputations who can assist you with the emotional side of what you want to achieve. These should have been through the fire themselves and understand the challenges inherent in having a great career. Try to avoid people who haven’t travelled down the path you want to walk as their advice is usually wrong.
Take Calculated Risks
When it comes to your career, you also want to avoid the temptation to play it safe. Yes, being conscientious is usually a good thing. But there are some people who take it too far and never rock the boat.
For example, try experimenting with things in your role and see if they can progress the company forward. Often, you’ll find that small, original tactics can have a profound impact if other people in the company haven’t used them before.
Another option is to fail forward. This technique involves moving past your mistakes and keeping on going, even if you didn’t do what you hoped.
Expand Your Skillset
Finally, and perhaps more obviously, you want to expand your skillset when you’re trying to boost your career. Learning new things is a powerful way to convince companies that you have inherent value and can do what they want you to do.
Don’t be shy about your achievements at previous jobs. Tell firms what you did and how it helped the bottom line (or other metrics they care about). Presenting this information in a form they can understand is often extremely useful and puts you in a better position than most other candidates applying for the position.
If you can learn something new, like digital marketing, that can help too. Up-to-date skills are often hard for firms to find, so if you’re offering them on a plate, that can be an excellent way to move forward with a job application and get things done.
Don’t be afraid to earn new certificates and degrees if you notice people in the industry using them. These can give you immediate credence and convince hiring managers that you’re a low-risk option compared to their other candidates.