5 Tips to Fuel Career Progression

Ask anyone in Senior Management and they will agree – there are significant challenges in recruitment that are common to every industry. From management’s point of view, getting the right people is crucial for a company’s performance and success. Similarly, for employees, working for a company that shares their values and meets their needs is also crucial. Therefore, it’s necessary to find a way to satisfy all involved so companies attract and keep suitable employees, and employees rise within organizations that nurture their skills and appreciate the contributions they make. Here are my top five tips to fuel your career progression.

1. Fully develop your skill set

If you’re serious about optimizing your career potential, it’s essential to get the basics of the role right. Better career growth is more likely when you take the time to really excel at a function. Therefore, it’s important to remain in a position until you truly understand its demands and challenges, as well as how to overcome them. By doing this, you become a more attractive prospect for an employer; developing your skill set comprehensively will make you a more valuable employee.

2. Be strategic in your choices

In markets where the supply of staff is less than the demand, employees are often headhunted by competing companies. The temptation to move job for a higher salary is often a factor in a person’s decision to stay or go. However, it’s absolutely vital to make decisions based on where they can ultimately lead; to be strategic in your career choices. Do not allow a slight increase in salary today determine your future, instead, consider the long-term value of developing your expertise within a function. It pays far more, down the line, to gain a wealth of experience and skills and have a long-term strategy, rather than merely gaining a little extra cash in the present.

3. Consider the bigger picture

So much of our time is spent in work that it’s important to share common values with your colleagues and managers. For instance, if family values are important to you, are they also important to your organization? Also, consider if there is an open-door policy in practice. Does senior management invite you to discuss your issues with them? Do they welcome feedback and encourage you to share your feelings and work through your frustrations? This type of company ethos ensures a healthy atmosphere of sharing and mutual understanding, as well as contented employees, and is central to your happiness and career prosperity.

4. Remember your reputation

Your reputation as a professional is key to your desirability as an employee, and, as we all know, a person’s reputation follows them in the business world. It’s vital to consider this when you are dealing with people internally and externally, but also when you decide to leave an organization. Employers want people who value loyalty and integrity; something that’s often evident through your resume. Have you spent time in past roles? Have you shown loyalty to previous organizations? Employers are reluctant to invest in who they deem as unstable candidates, people who flit from one position to another. Even if you find yourself in a position that does not fulfill your needs, be sure to leave the company on good terms, otherwise, this will reflect badly on you. Remember, your reputation is part of your career asset, and employers value an individual’s professionalism and integrity above all else.

5. Take responsibility for your own self-development

It’s vital to be proactive is your quest for career development. Use your initiative- ask your manager’s opinion of what you need to develop to become more of an asset to your organization and begin to work on it in your own time. Taking responsibility for your own self-development contributes to your overall value as an employee and your willingness to invest in yourself proves your ambition and motivation- vital qualities for optimal career progression.