In your career, just like in any long-term relationship, you’ll come to a point at which you need to stop and ask, ‘where is this headed?’. Like relationships, jobs usually evolve and grow over time. Unless you’re perfectly happy with your current role – what you do every day, how much you earn and who’s in your team – you probably want to see your career progress. But how do you make this happen?
Here are some of the best ways to take your career to the next level.
Establish a great relationship with your manager
The place to start this is in your very first job interview. It’s worth stating up front what you wish to get out of the job and how you’d like to grow and progress. Maybe don’t go in with guns blazing saying you want to be the CEO in six months’ time – but genuinely state what’s important to you in life and how you hope to reach your goals through this job.
Get your manager onboard from the very start, and ensure they are willing to support you. If your manager isn’t excited for you, and doesn’t seem interested in helping your career progress, sadly they may not be a great manager. If signs of this start to appear, it may be time to look for another one. A great manager will support your dreams and be your advocate. They’ll help you grow in your role and give you opportunities to grow.
Be proactive – go the extra mile!
No, don’t work yourself into the ground, but show that you care and are committed by putting yourself out there and genuinely engaging with your work.
Put your hand up for things! Volunteer your time and skills to help the business, and you’ll find that opportunities will start coming your way. For example, by offering to train the new guy in your office, you might get asked to train a new guy interstate, and then run a training program for your whole team, and then… who knows?
Finding the motivation to be proactive can be difficult when you aren’t exactly where you want to be right now. But, keep your eye on the goal and invest your time and energy now so your commitment and willingness will get noticed, and remembered.
Rub shoulders with the right people
It sounds pretty obvious, but to progress into your desired role in a company, you need to network with the people who can help you get there. This means if you’re longing for a BDM role, you need to be known by State Managers. Introduce yourself and demonstrate your commitment by always being responsive and a team player. If they notice you’re great at your current role, and they know you want to progress into a different role, you’ll be the top of mind when a position becomes available.
Seek… and you probably won’t find
If there’s a particular opportunity you’re looking for, don’t expect to find it on Seek. The best opportunities often aren’t advertised advertently, and you need to dig a little to find what you want. Everyone looks on Seek. Everyone’s applying for those jobs. Stand out from the crowd by making your vision known and speaking to the right people to find those opportunities for yourself.
You can also use a good recruiter to help connect you with ideal job opportunities. A specialist recruitment agency like Platinum People Group can also advise you on how to make a great impression to employers, how to find a great career fit, and the potential steps you should take to get there.
We’d love to help you take your career to the next level by discussing your goals and ambitions, and advising you on the steps to take to obtain your dream job. Get in touch for a free career progression session with one of our knowledgeable advisers.
