Anyone who’s tried to elevate their career in the past few years will know that it’s easier said than done. We live in a hyper-competitive world, and it can feel like there are one hundred people applying for every job that’s slightly better than the one we currently have.
First of all, it’s important not to give up. Sometimes, good things come to you in an instant; in others, you need to be patient and show a little perseverance. From there, it’s all about doing what you can to get ahead. Below, we’ll look at some underrated and often overlooked ways to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Make sure you tick all those boxes, and you’ll be on your way to having a better career tomorrow than you do today.
Be Easy to Work With
The professional world isn’t a popularity contest, but there’s no denying that it does help if people want to work with you. You’ll know from your own experience of the working world that there are some people who seem to light up a room and others who people barely notice if they’re in the office or working from home.
We tend to think of the people that everyone likes as having some innate, natural charm, but that’s not the case. They’re normally little more than easy to get along with — they don’t offer biting comments, they do what they’re supposed to do, and they’re friendly. Go out of your way to ensure you’re not causing problems for other people, and more doors will open up to you.
Have High Standards — Whatever You’re Doing
Some people have the idea that they have exactly what it takes to be an exceptional worker if only they’d be given the opportunity. But it doesn’t work like that. If you’re not doing your best at whatever your job is right now, it’s unlikely that you’ll do so when you finally land the position you want.
Having high standards for all jobs, even if you’re not thrilled to be doing it, will help to develop the kind of mindset and attitude you need to reach the top level. Plus, aside from the obvious benefits, taking this approach will make work more satisfying.
Have the Courage to Move
You can see why people decide to stay in a job that they generally enjoy. It’s nice to exist in the comfort zone.
However, there is a danger attached to staying in a company too long. For one thing, you’ll likely earn less money — studies have repeatedly shown that people who move companies earn more money than those who don’t. In addition, if there’s no pathway to the more senior roles, then you’ll run the risk of career stagnation.
It takes courage to leave a company and begin a new professional adventure, but it’s worth doing so. Unlike staying in the same role, you never know what it might lead to.
Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone
As well as moving companies, it’s also recommended to step out of your comfort zone in another way. For instance, by taking on tasks that force you to dig a little deeper and utilize — and perhaps develop — new skills.
If there’s one thing that holds people back from improving their careers, it’s fear that they’ll be “found out” once they’re given more responsibilities. Even if that were the case (and it’s unlikely to be), then wouldn’t you rather know what you’re capable of, rather than just making an assumption? So take on jobs that challenge you — in all likelihood, you’ll find that you complete the job just fine.
Invest In Training
Most people know that it can pay to invest in training courses that are directly related to their careers. But it’s also worthwhile completing other courses that have professional value, even ones that aren’t specifically to do with your role/industry. For instance, you’ll make yourself more appealing to employers if you have some medical training, especially if it’s a public-facing role. Obtaining BLS certification is relatively straightforward, and may help to make you an additionally valuable member of the workplace. Additionally, it’ll show that you’re committed to lifelong learning and self-improvement, and it’ll also just more broadly make you a better citizen, too.
Learn a Second Language
The world is smaller than it’s ever been, and that’s not something that’s going to change in the near future. With more trade agreements in place than ever, the ability to speak more than one language has become increasingly valuable. In truth, speaking any second language (apart from the most obscure languages) may benefit your career (or at least not hurt it). If you’re looking to learn a language that’ll genuinely open up new career possibilities, then consider learning French, Arabic, Russian, Mandarin, or Spanish. You should learn primarily for fun or for travel purposes, but it might just lead to an interesting career development in the years to come.
Nurture Relationships
You’re not going to rise to the top of your field all on your own. There’ll be people who help you along the way. It’s usually the people who you’ve known for years who open up a door, or who introduce you to someone who can help you to get ahead. Those relationships sometimes happen all on their own, but not always — you have to nurture them directly. Of course, you shouldn’t develop relationships solely with the aim of getting a better job someday. You should do it because it’s the right thing to do and benefits everyone.
Become Self-Aware
Not everyone possesses self-awareness, but it’s something you can develop. Ultimately, the better you know yourself, the better you’ll be able to perform in your professional life. It’s important — or even essential — to have a good understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, and especially your weaknesses. If you can tighten those up, you might just avoid making repeated errors that hold you back.
Be OK Dropping Down
Most people think that improving their career involves moving to a more prestigious company or earning more money. But sometimes, it’s better to drop down — from a salary or prestige perspective — in order to get ahead. For instance, you might find more long-term success if you take on a more senior role at a lesser-known company, rather than working a standard job at a big-name company.
Prioritize Work
Finally, the most obvious way to get ahead in your career is to make it a priority. All too often, you’ll find people talking about wanting to have a better job or more responsibilities, but who then don’t do all that much to improve their situation. You can’t have everything all of the time — if you want to enhance your career, then you may need to spend less time socializing or playing video games. The working world rewards grinders. You don’t necessarily have to do this forever, but it can be worthwhile telling yourself that the next six months will be all about improving your professional life.
Final Thoughts
As we said at the beginning of the article, there’s a lot of competition out there for the best roles. In fact, there’s a lot of competition for all roles. If you want to be the one who snags those in-demand jobs, then you’ll need to do things that set you apart from the crowd. Everyone will do the obvious things such as improving their qualifications and networking. Take the tips outlined above on board, and you’ll be giving yourself the best possible chance of professional success.
