Many of us think that once we have graduated from university and landed a job, everything is plain sailing from there. But in reality, it is important that you keep working towards your career goals, otherwise you may find yourself in a role that you no longer enjoy.
Just like in the other areas of your life, you may find yourself growing out of the job that you are currently in and may look at how to get some extra responsibility or a promotion. However, a promotion and a salary increase will not just fall into your lap, and you need to know how to work towards the next step in your career.
If you work within the business industry, it can feel intimidating to advance your career in such a competitive and rapidly changing industry. With that in mind, here are some top tips to help you achieve the recognition that you deserve and get the career advancement that you have been hoping for.
Step Up for Extra Responsibility
If your manager or boss is looking for someone to take on an extra project or a task that would help to ease their workload, then don’t be that person who slides down into their seat and pretends not to have heard what they said. Instead, step up to the plate and show your superior that you are happy to go above and beyond in your role.
This is important, as it will help to make your superior realise your potential and may make them more inclined to consider you for a promotion. In the world of business, it is important that you make yourself noticed, otherwise you may find yourself getting lost amongst your competitors.
Network, Network, Network
The people that you meet every day are key to the advancement of your career, but many people overlook how important they can be. From the people you studied for your degree in business with, to those that you now work amongst could all be great potential contacts. Therefore, it is important that you get to know them as much as possible and learn how to work with those around you, instead of just trying to compete with them.
There are so many different ways that you can network with others in the business industry, such as:
- Inviting a potential client out for lunch
- Attending a local business talk or convention
- Having a detailed LinkedIn account
- Having your own business cards to give out
- Connecting with those you have worked with in the past on LinkedIn
It is important that you are pro-active in getting to know others around you, as you never know when you will need them or the connections that they can provide you with.
Start a Blog
While starting a blog may not be one of the most obvious techniques of trying to advance your business career, it is important to remember how relevant and important an online presence is in today’s society. Most things nowadays take place online, especially when it comes to businesses.
At first, you may think that you have nothing new or different to say about your area of business. However, you may be surprised at how popular an honest and up-front blog post can be with your peers in the industry.
A blog is also a great opportunity to get your thoughts and opinions about the industry out there on a public domain. While this can be a great way to meet other like-minded people, it is also important to remember that what you put online reflects you and your business. So, think twice about the consequences of what you are putting online for everyone to see before you submit any posts.
Go Back to Studying
Whether you have been in the world of business for some time or you are new to the industry, it is always a good idea to go back to basics and develop your knowledge and expertise. Many professionals make the mistake of thinking that they already know everything there is to know about their industry, but this is rarely the case.
If you currently thinking ‘how can I find the time to study while also working?’ then online study could be the answer. You can make the most of online learning environments that allow you to study from home and still benefit from an accredited and quality degree.
There are many benefits of studying from home for your degree such as:
- 100 per cent completed online to fit around your other commitments
- Experienced teaching frameworks
- 82 per cent employability rating by The Times University Guide
- Business school accredited
- Affordable study options
- Great for networking
For more information on taking your career in business to the next level, consider visiting Aston University Online via the following link: https://studyonline.aston.ac.uk/programmes/msc-business-management-online.
Be Your Own Evaluator
Sometimes it is easy to consider a task or role that we have completed ourselves to be the very best work, and not take the time to look at the weaknesses. Therefore, it is important that you learn to be realistic and objective about the work you have done so that you can learn from your mistakes. Nothing and no one is ever perfect, and your competitors around you are often very happy to remind you of this. So, be sure to learn how to see your own faults before someone else does!
Set Achievement Goals
It is sometimes easy to say that you want to advance your career, but it is harder to specify in what ways you want to develop. Maybe you want to earn more money or take on more responsibility? Either way, setting and writing down your goals makes you much more likely to achieve them. What’s more is that written goals help you to stay more focused and on track.
Through following these tips and advice, you can take your career to the next level and advance your position in the world of business.