Forging a successful career takes a lot of hard work and determination. It takes perseverance, and tenacity, self-confidence, personal investment and a whole lot of resolve. However, the path to success can be one fraught with hurdles, obstacles and challenges that can slip you up or send you in the wrong direction. Knowing what could lead to those mistakes is the first step towards avoiding them; the second is reacting effectively.
You will make mistakes in business, and they should be seen as a positive rather than a negative. As Steve Jobs once said, “Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.”
However, don’t allow tried and tested missteps catch you off guard. Learning from other people’s mistakes is just as valuable as learning from your own. Follow these six simple steps and watch your career take a giant leap forward.
1. Don’t Give Up Networking Once You Get A Job
Unsurprisingly, the majority of us put a greater emphasis on networking when we’re looking for a job or seeking new opportunities, but take our foot off the gas once we’ve found a position we’re happy with. Long-term career success is dependent on your ability to build strong connections and nurture relationships, so calling on connections when you’re down on your luck, only to drop them once things begin to look up is a big mistake.
Networking is about giving back what you take out; it’s about building mutually beneficial relationships and paying it forward every now and again. Those of us who use our ‘networks’ (and I use this in the loosest possible sense if you are not nurturing them properly) for personal gain only will soon come to find theirs is a lot smaller than they thought.
Make a concerted effort to respond to others pleas for help or guidance, to share opportunities and utelise your connections skills and services rather than going to their competitors. If you are an active member of the community, others will be only too happy to lend a hand when you begin looking for new prospects yourself.
2. Be The Driver Of Your Own Destiny
One of the most valuable lessons you can learn in life is that the world doesn’t owe you a favor. You and you alone can influence your own career and the sooner you learn that the better. Don’t wait around for handouts, leg-ups and snippets of valuable advice to fall in your lap, you have to work for them, and work hard.
“Too many people depend on their manager or boss to set the tone for their career path. Your career success is dependent on you being the driver of your own destiny. Be proactive in the assignments and responsibilities you take on. Talk to your manager about what you want and where you see your career path going with the company,” says Chris Duchesne, Vice President of Global Workplace Solutions, and he’s right.
If you wait for your manager to offer you more responsibility, hope that your dream job will come to you or believe that a promotion and a pay rise is a right of passage, not something you have to earn then you are in for a nasty surprise. There is no secret for success; it’s born out of hard work, determination and the ability to pick yourself up and dust yourself off when things don’t turn out right first time.
3. Keep Social Media Profiles Professional
The lines between personal and professional are more blurred than ever before and in today’s digital age, employers and prospective employers can find you online with just a few clicks of a button. Even if your profile is set to private — meaning only your ‘friends’ can view your posts — be mindful that colleagues, future employers or even your boss could follow your social account.
As Diane Gottsman, national etiquette and modern manners expert writes for the Huffington Post, “Consider the potential eyes on your profile. Would you be comfortable if your boss, client, spouse, pastor or children’s teacher read and shared your views?” If the answer is ‘no’ don’t post it.
4. Keep Your Skills Sharp
If you want to be at the top of your game and become recognized as an expert in your field, you need to keep your skills sharp and current. Keeping abreast of the latest industry trends as well as continual investment in your own talent is fundamental for professional and personal growth. Don’t rest on your laurels, and assume that a degree from a good university will bolster your development for the entirety of your career; industries change, so to does technology, professional landscapes and the way we do business, don’t get left behind.
5. Don’t Focus Solely On Salary
On your way to the top, it can be tempting to deviate from your career plan in favor of a larger salary, however this could end up being a step backwards. As attractive as a bigger paycheck may seem, think about the bigger picture before you make any decisions. Is the role going to benefit your career? Will you gain valuable experience in your chosen field? Will you enjoy the job?
Increasingly, our professional and personal lives are merging so work is becoming life and visa versa — the two are no longer detached. With this in mind, its important to find a job that perfectly aligns with your own goals and aspirations. Furthermore, recent statistics show that people are increasingly looking for benefits such as the ability to work from home, flexibility and modern working environments over and above salary, indicating a mass shift in our priorities. Be sure to weigh up the pros and cons of every opportunity before accepting it.
6. Create A Five-Year Plan
One of my old employers once taught me that if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. Having a five-year plan regarding your career is extremely important for personal improvement and will help you progress steadily in your chosen field. Be sure to update your plan every year; analyze the year just past, set new goals and target for the year ahead and look to the future.
Where would you like to be in five years time? What do you want to achieve this year? What did you learn from the year just passed? Would you have done anything differently and why? The ability to plan ahead is critical for personal and professional growth, but even more important is the capability to learn from your experience and mistakes.
