Last Updated on: 12th January 2024, 09:05 pm
I’ve been really busy with work these past few months. I recently launched a startup, and I’ve been busy trying to connect with fellow entrepreneurs and business owners in efforts to market my company’s services. What I like about running a business is the excitement that comes from not knowing what opportunities would come and how fast or slow you’ll achieve your goal. It isn’t as predictable as a corporate job, but that’s not to say that I didn’t like working in corporate. I know I learned a lot from my stints in the corporate world.
Anyhow, as I was reflecting on my career and how far I’ve gone despite the many twists and turns, I’ve decided to share with you the lessons I’ve learned on how to quickly advance in your career.
Due to the length of this article, I’m publishing it in 3 parts. Here’s the first one.
Do & Don’t Tip #1. Do set a goal. Don’t look for a job just to get by.
Do set a goal. I believe that you can more easily reach your goal if you have a specific one in mind. For example, a goal that states “I want to be an entrepreneur by the age of 35” is more specific than, say “I want to be rich.”
By having a specific goal, you’re most likely to consciously or unconsciously take the steps and actions that lead to that goal.
I remember when I was applying for jobs as a Technical Writer in IT companies, a common question that they would ask was “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” Always, I would say that I saw myself being promoted to the Senior role or that I would be an Editor. Sure enough, I did achieve these goals in 5 or so years, and I didn’t necessarily have a concrete map to reach them.
Goal setting is even more effective if you write down your goals. A Harvard study proved this. The University’s graduate students were asked if they had set clear and written goals for the future, and whether they had specific plans on how to achieve them. The results showed that only 3% of the students had their goals written down, along with their plans for achieving them; 13% had their goals set in their minds but have not written them anywhere; and 84% did not have any goals.
The researchers interviewed the students again after ten years, and they found that the 13% who had their goals in their minds earned two times more than the 84% who had no goals and that the 3% who had written down their goals earned, on average, ten times as much as the 97% of their class combined. As Damian Pros points out,
“When you don’t have a plan, you don’t know how you will reach your destination.”
Don’t look for a job just to get by. Of course, it can be very hard to look for a job—much less one that you like—in these difficult times. It would definitely be practical for you to accept any job because it would be better than not having one at all. However, don’t lose sight of your goal. Too often, people take on “temporary” jobs and end up being contented with it that they completely abandon their initial goals. Although there’s nothing wrong with being contented with something, it can sometimes mean that you’re settling for something less than what you could be achieving.
Some people also take on the highest paying job without consideration of where that job can lead. Without a set goal, you can easily choose a job that pays highly but that wouldn’t provide much room for growth. Not only will this limit your opportunities for advancement, it can also leave you feeling frustrated in the long run. Again, if you have a well-defined goal, then you will be more comfortable about taking on a job that may not pay much initially but which may provide you the opportunities for reaching your goals.
Do & Don’t Tip #2. Do believe in yourself. Don’t pay attention to the noise.
Whatever your goal is, you are bound to hear a lot of discouragement from people who may think that your goals are unrealistic or that you’re not cut out to achieve them. Well, don’t listen to them. What they say is true only if you accept them to be true.
If you really want to achieve something, then believe that you have what it takes to achieve it. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself whenever others discourage you, resolve to prove them wrong.
I am in a wheelchair, and when I first started looking for a job, everyone discouraged me. They said that it would be difficult for me to get a job because even physically abled people have a difficult time getting hired. I believed that they were just being protective of me. They probably wanted to spare me the disappointments I would get from the companies that would reject me.
Sure enough, I encountered a number of companies that evaluated my job application based on my medical history rather than on my qualifications. But even that didn’t deter me. I continued to believe in myself.
Fast forward into the future, and in the 14 years I’ve been working, I’ve never been jobless. I would usually have 2 or 3 jobs at the same time (a regular job and one or two freelance gigs on the side). Later on and up to now, I would find that I no longer have to look for a job or seek clients as headhunters and clients are now the ones who seek me.
It is true that how you see yourself is how others see you, so if you believe in yourself, then others are bound to believe in you, too.
Do & Don’t Tip #3. Do live your dream. Don’t live other people’s dream.
As I repeatedly write in my blog posts, we should not compare ourselves to others. The same goes for our dreams. We don’t have to compare our dreams to those of others. Just because your friend wants to be rich and famous doesn’t mean you have to want to be rich and famous as well.
Even if you successfully achieve something, if it’s not what you want, then you still won’t be happy.
When I left my corporate job to do freelance work full time, one of my friends’ worries was that I wouldn’t have an impressive job title and that this might make it difficult for me to go back to corporate work once I decide to do so.
I know this must have seemed like a real concern for them, but it seemed silly to me. I didn’t really care about job titles and prestige. As long as I was writing and earning enough, then I was happy.
The funny thing is that with the startup that I launched, I ended up having to give myself a job title, which would be more “prestigious” than any title I may have gotten if I stayed at my corporate job. I still don’t care about job titles, but they’re necessary for me to seem credible to my clients.
The morale is that you can never go wrong when you pursue your passion and do what you love. The universe has a way of giving you what you deserve. As long as you keep working hard on your dream, then you will surely reap the rewards.
Do & Don’t Tip #4. Do know your worth. Don’t settle for less.
As Kathie Lee Gifford quotes, “if you settle for what you’ve got, you deserve what you get.”
Many people find it hard to advance in their careers, particularly in terms of their compensation, because they just settle for what the company offers. Although money isn’t the only measure of success, our financial stability is a big part of what makes us happy. It allows us to take care of ourselves and others in ways that we can’t if we didn’t have enough money.
I was inspired by the entrepreneurs I’ve met who had standards for the clients they worked with. One said that he worked only with clients who had a net worth of $1 million and another who said that he worked only with clients who could afford a certain amount of monthly payments.
When I was working in corporate, I accepted a new job only if they offered me more than what I was already getting. This allowed me to gain salary increases in short periods of time.
Note, though, that your “compensation” doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to the monetary form. Even if the salary is lower than you expect, if they offer you benefits or learning opportunities that you wouldn’t get elsewhere, then these would be just as valuable as the financial remuneration.
If you know you’re good at what you do, then you’ll have the confidence to “name your price” so-to-speak. You won’t have to feel guilty because you know you can deliver.
Don’t short-sell yourself because it may make others regard you less highly. It’s like when you shop for something. You often get the notion that the highly priced products are the ones with high quality. You derserve to price your work highly, too.
Do and Don’t Tip #5. Do put your best foot forward. Don’t downplay your strengths.
In job interviews, the HR personnel or hiring manager usually asks you to describe yourself. This is your opportunity to highlight your strengths. This shows that you’re confident in your skills and that you know yourself.
Some people feel uncomfortable about describing the things they’re good at for fear of being called boastful or arrogant. However, a job interview is not the right time for modesty. In this instance, the interviewer has no way of determining what you’re capable of unless you tell them.
According to an article by the Legacy Bowes Group, employees with a high level of self-esteem are open to challenges. They are open and are willing to help each other. Even when they feel insecure or anxious, they don’t overwhelm people. Their actions are also reflective of what people say about them. They foster spontaneous interaction and communication. They are also comfortable in acknowledging their mistakes and are open to criticism. They easily talk of their accomplishments and are honest of their shortcomings, yet they’re also generous with compliment. They communicate easily and seem to enjoy interactions.
That said, showing your prospective employer that you have a high self-esteem indicates that you’ll be a great asset for them.
Do and Don’t Tip #6. Do strive for excellence. Don’t settle for “good enough.”
Whatever job you have and whatever task you’re working on, always make sure to give it your best. Don’t submit work just for the sake of compliance. Double check to make sure that it’s the best quality of work you can do. By doing this, you get “branded” as someone who produces excellent work.
Not only do you get to give your company their money’s worth, you also reap your own rewards from it. Your superiors will notice you for your work and will likely have you in mind for promotions. When you move to a new job, you’ll likely get recommendations and referrals from the people you previously worked with. Colleagues and clients will want to keep working with you. You will develop the reputation of being someone who consistently delivers excellent work.
Do and Don’t Tip #7. Do continue to hone your knowledge and skills. Don’t be complacent.
I believe that learning is a lifelong process. Even if you think you’re the best in your field, there’s surely something new for you to learn. As such, take advantage of the trainings that your company provides, especially when they’re free. If you’re not employed, you can also find a lot of free trainings and webinars online or in meetup groups.
You don’t learn everything in school nor from the current tasks you do at work. Moreover, there’s always a new technology, method, tool, or practice that comes out, and you should learn about them if you want to stay at par with the others in your field.
It may also benefit you to learn about things that are aligned with your interests even if you can’t use them at your current job yet. This way, when an opportunity arises for you to use that skill or knowledge, then you’re ready!
Do and Don’t Tip #8. Do make yourself visible. Don’t passively stay in the background.
This is something I’ve learned from a former boss. If you want your managers or leaders to remember you when opportunities for promotion or other forms of career advancement arise, then you should make sure they know you. No matter how good you are at what you do, if the leaders don’t even know you exist, then you’ll always get passed on.
Some people may again worry that they’d be seen as arrogant if they put themselves “out there,” but no one will know that you’re a star if you keep staying meek and quiet.
Here are some tips to make yourself visible without seeming arrogant.
Actively participate in meetings.
Join the conversation. Share your ideas. Even if they don’t get implemented, sharing your opinions will allow the other members of the meeting to get to know who you are. If you always actively participate in these meetings, then you’ll be seen as someone who has a lot to contribute and who is confident.
According to WiseStep, confidence is the basis for a high level of productivity and is the key to success. Francisco Dao also asserts that
“Self-confidence is the fundamental basis from which leadership grows. Trying to teach leadership without first building confidence is like building a house on a foundation of sand.”
As such, confidently participating in meetings shows your superiors that you have leadership potential.
Ask questions.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions, especially during trainings. Not only does this allow people to know who you are, they also get to see you as a critical thinker. In addition, since you’re able to get clarification to your questions, you’re better able to apply what you learned in your tasks.
Volunteer in special projects or activities.
Another way to become known in the workplace is by volunteering for projects or activities even if they are not work-related. Not only do you get known by people outside your department, you also get to learn new things, which you may be able to use in your job. It also allows you to explore other forms of work without having to leave your job. As well, it enables you to demonstrate your commitment and level of knowledge about a specific area. It makes you to stand out.
Do and Don’t Tip #9. Do actively ask for what you want. Don’t just wait for what others will give you.
Many people get stuck in their job just because they don’t ask for what they want. Most people think that if they work hard enough, then their boss will eventually notice them and give them a promotion.
However, if you are “competing” with other employees for that promotion, then not telling your boss that you’re interested can make your boss disregard you for the role.
I learned that, if you want to eventually advance in the company you work for, then you should express this interest to your boss. Even if you’re not yet ready for the bigger role, you can ask your superior how you can become qualified for it and what you can do to develop the skills needed for it.
Do and Don’t Tip #10. Do use your core gifts. Don’t waste time on something you know you’re weak at.
Know what your strengths are and use them to advance in your career. Although improving on your weaknesses also has value, it’s more worthwhile for you to develop the strengths you already have and identify ways to use them such that they make you stand out at work.
For example, if you’re good in selling, then it’s best to get a job that involves selling and directly interacting with customers rather than a desk job where you deal with lots of paper work. If you decide to go into business, then don’t start a restaurant if cooking isn’t particularly your core strength. Although you can probably attend some cooking classes, it will still take you months or years to become as good as someone who’s naturally gifted at cooking.
Using your natural abilities at work makes it less arduous. It also makes the work more engaging and interesting, increasing the level of your performance, and drawing the kind of positive attention that will help you advance in your career.
Below are some of the questions you can ask yourself to identify what your strengths are:
- What kinds of activities do you engage in when you’re not working? What types of volunteer work or hobbies do you do? Do they involve building relationships or organizing events?
- When you realize that time has flown by while at work, what type of tasks are you working on? What types of abilities or skills do you use when you most feel that you’re “in the zone?”
- What types of work do you get the most positive feedback for? Which types of tasks do your coworkers usually ask you for help?
- What types of activities energize you? Which ones do you find most fulfilling or satisfying?
Conclusion
Loving yourself not only makes you feel better, but can also help you achieve your career goals. Knowing what you’re good at, doing what you love to do, and not being ashamed of letting people know that you’re good at something can make you shine so much so that employers will want you on their team!
Please watch out for Do and Don’t tips 11-20 in the next post 🙂
May you have a happy and productive day! 🙂
