August 27th, 2019 | Updated on June 28th, 2022
For most people entering the job market, it is not just about finding employment and earning a wage – there is more to it than that.
It is about building a career and taking the steps that will help you climb the ladder of success. Yes, you will have to start at the bottom, but it is also important to know what the long-term goal is.
And that goal will be different for everyone. For some, it will be about financial independence. For others, it will be power and recognition – perhaps as the CEO of a major corporation.
For others, it will be about starting your own business. Whatever your goal, it is important to have a target and work continuously towards it.
In order to do that you need to take risks and put yourself out there. Here are a few simple things that you can do to help upskill yourself and make that movement possible.
1. Never Stop Learning
The person who thinks that they have nothing more to learn is the person who is about to have a very rude awakening.
No matter how much of a subject matter expert you are, there is always scoped to take more on board. Learn more about your industry or the associated industries. Ask questions and enrol for courses.
You might be a financial wizard but that doesn’t mean that you would not learn something if you enrolled to attend auditing courses or cryptocurrency briefings.
There are so many areas to learn and you need to be open to exploring these. It will help make you more rounded, a better leader and a more employable person.
2. Network
So much about moving ahead in the corporate world is about who you know. So, network relentlessly.
Attend industry events and conferences, use social media, meet people and build relationships. And remember a lot of networking is about building from the ground up. Invest in people.
If you connect with somebody at the bottom of the ladder, they will be far more likely to call on you in the future when they have reached the top. Networking is a long-term thing and you cannot start doing it too early. You can even get new updates from other companies which you can soon utilize – whether you’ll be looking for tech jobs available or just aiming to meet top people from your industry.
3. Get Involved
Put your hand up to work on as many projects as possible. Make yourself known within your company and within your industry. Not every project that you work on will be a success or get noticed, but some of them will be.
What is more important is that you are noticed for being a willing worker and somebody who is always keen to help.
4. Quality
This is something that should probably go without saying, but we will say it anyway – make sure that whatever you do in your life, be it work or networking or studying, that you always give your very best.
As much as people like quality what they like even more is effort and you must make sure that you always give 100% of whatever you have to give. Hold nothing back and don’t be afraid to let your quality shine through.
