Top Tips for Career Success

 

Everybody has their own definitions of a successful career. For most of us, this comes down to what we are doing, how much we are getting paid, and whether we enjoy it. Life is too short to be trapped for too long in an unsatisfying career! If you hate your job or you feel like you’re stuck in a rut, it might be time to give your career a shake-up. These tips are intended to highlight some practical ways that you can start making your career more positive, more satisfying, and more likely to leave you getting the buzz of a job well done.

 

Choose the Right Occupation

 

Pursuing a career is a big step, especially if you’ve been spending time just finding any old job and just getting it done and over with. That’s why it’s important that you think seriously and practically about your career options. This may be very reliant on your level of education, but having a clear idea about your career goals will give you an easier roadmap to career success. Do self-assessments to find the best career for you, and narrow down your options. Do research on each career-type that sounds promising, and learn as much as you can about how to break into that career.

 

Make Your Own Decisions

 

Never let anyone else tell you what to do with your life or your career. If people start telling you that this career is a dead-end, or that you should be focusing on a different option, ignore it. Making a career choice is a very personal decision, and your barometer of career success might be very different from theirs. Job satisfaction is the key to easier and more likely career progression, so you have to be comfortable and happy with your choice of occupation. Of course, do your research into employment prospects and the future of your chosen career, but always make sure that your career choice is your choice.

 

Define Your Own Success

 

You could base whether you’re successful or not on the size of your paycheck, or the fact that you have the luxury of a penthouse office. Other people will gauge career success when they get praise from their boss, or when they attract a big client. It’s vital that you know the career successes that mean the most to you. You might even decide that real career success is being able to work when you want so that you get to spend more time with your family or friends. Don’t let other people’s measures of success dictate yours.

 

Smart Learning

 

Whether you’re entering a whole new occupation or sector, or you’re looking for ways to advance to the next level in your position, education is going to be important. If you’re already working full time, then you might assume that you lack the time and resources to get formal qualifications. This has never been more wrong. Online education and e-learning is more valuable than ever, and could be the key to career progression. Once you have your career choice in mind, look at the options available from sites like sites like Kettering University Online, as these will allow you to manage your learning time to your own schedule. Customized timetables mean that you get to manage your time much more easily.

 

Get Help

 

Even if you do get that degree and manage to get a foot on the career ladder, you’re not going to know everything. Everybody needs help sometimes, and that’s especially true in the workplace. Find those that have the experience that you lack. Having a mentor is incredibly useful and is actively encouraged in the modern business landscape. There are many ways to make sure that you find the right mentor, and they can have a huge impact on the speed of your career progression. A good mentor will:

 

Be able to advise you on difficult decisions

Discuss your next steps

Talk through your career options

Discuss potential employers

Provide interview advice

 

Take the time to develop a strong relationship with your mentor and your career can only benefit.

 

Acknowledge Help

 

This sounds like such a simple, common sense thing to do, but it’s amazing how few people show gratitude in the modern workplace. If someone assists you in your career, always remember to acknowledge that help. That covers all types of help as well. From someone taking five minutes out of their day to show you how to use the printer, to someone who offers a personal recommendation to a new employer, gratitude will take you a long way. By letting those people know that you appreciate their help and that it was important to you, the more likely that they will offer it again. Remember to return the favor whenever possible.

 

Making Mistakes

 

You’re going to make mistakes occasionally. Everyone does. No matter how much you try to avoid them, mistakes are just a part of life. Obviously, you want to avoid them as much as possible, but when they happen, own them. You might be tempted to deny fault, but that is the single worst way to deal with mistake-making. Admit your mistake, but try and have a solution already prepared when you confess your error. Make sure that you own your mistakes, and they won’t come back to bite you when you least expect it.

 

Always Listen

 

You should try and train yourself to listen more often than you speak. That’s because you can learn a lot more by listening than you can by talking. Learning to listen can actually be quite a challenge, but it’s a vital skill if you want to boost your career. If you can’t listen to your boss explaining the new marketing strategy, or the complaints of the team that you’re heading, then you will not grow professionally. Not listening is one of the fastest ways to hinder your career success.

 

Launching into a new career is not without its challenges. Even if you have already started on your dream career, there are always going to be barriers to overcome. Make sure that you know exactly what you’re aiming for, and career success will be easier to measure and easier to reach.