How To Advance Your Career Quicker

Feeling stuck in your current job? 

Advancing in your career path requires strategic planning.

Make it your own business to safeguard your future and invest in yourself.

So, if you’re ready to supercharge your career, here are 6 tried and tested ways to do so more strategically:

1. Take on new responsibilities before you’re asked

One of the best ways to advance in your career path is to take on new challenges and responsibilities voluntarily.

Think of it as pay it forward way of getting where you want.

Doing this will help you gain confidence, increase your value to the company, and set yourself up for a promotion.

It also demonstrates your commitment to an organisation and your readiness to move up in the ranks.

Seeking out new tasks and activities beyond the scope of your job will show that you are an ambitious, hardworking individual that is capable of handling new responsibilities.

2. Learn the skills you need to get to the next level

Depending on your career choice, you might want to learn some new skills that will further your current level of experience or enable you to train for a new job.

For example:

If you want to be a leader in an organisation, but you lack people motivation skills, you can read books and take seminars on leadership.

If you want to become the most in-demand software developer, you need to train yourself in the latest technologies and techniques.

Generally, learning new skills gives you the ability to undertake more challenging job roles.

Many people think that once they have the paper, and they start going to work, they can stop learning.

This attitude diminishes your potential because rapid changes in almost every area of the work are making your current knowledge obsolete.

3. Get professional training/certifications

There are employers, who invest in vocational training – this is great!

But, generally, as an individual/employee you shouldn’t rely only on your employer for your professional and individual development.

Certifications can provide an excellent way to advance your career path by equipping you with the knowledge, skills, and qualifications necessary to move up the ladder. This is particularly true for professionals in the fields of:

* Science and engineering

* Information technology

* Management

* Business operations

Having a certification in a specific field could make all the difference in securing a higher position for you in a company or landing a job with a better salary.

And graduating from a certification program through reliable agencies like www.acls-pals-bls.com allows demonstrates to employers that you have the motivation to work hard to improve yourself professionally.

4. Talk to people you look up to/get a mentor

Talking and networking with others in your industry, or the field you aspire to work in, is essential.

It gets your name known in the relevant circles and grants you the opportunity to express your passions and interest.

These days, you can network both online and offline.

Some ways to network include:

* Speaking at professional events

* Attending speaking events and conferences

* Utilising online networking/mentorship platforms like Pushfar

* Utlilise popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit etc

Start talking to more people you look up to and grow your network.

A mentor is an experienced and trusted advisor who can offer helpful advice and guidance in navigating certain professional roles.

Mentors and role models may be:

* Your peers

* Leaders in your company

* Experts in the field (you can find them online or at events)

* Colleagues

* Supervisors/ your immediate managers

5. Develop a strong personal brand

Developing a personal brand is one of the best ways to advance in your career path.

A personal brand is a widely recognised perception or impression of an individual based on their experience, expertise, competencies, and achievements in their field. Personal brands may be deliberately modified/curated to create a public persona.

Professional traits such as having a strong work ethic, excellent communication skills, confidentiality, and creativity are all important components of creating a strong brand.

Additionally, creating an online presence and having a professional portfolio will help you stand out and make a lasting impact.

Networking and creating strong relationships also allow you to gain knowledge and valuable insight into industry trends and key players.

6. Polish your CV

Your CV is what’s going to get you shortlisted (or not) for the interview. It’s the employer’s first impression of you, so it’s important to get it perfect.

I’ve read many CV writing tips in my life, and I found that there is one thing that all excellent CVs have in common, no matter the industry – they are concise!

Be short and to the point: put your best experience and qualifications at the front of the page, so that your potential employer gets an idea of who you are immediately!

Update your CV as you take on new responsibilities at your current work or gain new skills as you never know where your next opportunity can strike.

If you’re struggling to make your CV shine, you can hire a copywriter to bring out your best qualities and ensure that it catches the right attention.