Five surprising tips to take your career to new heights
You don’t have to ask permission to be great. You go out and strive until greatness is achieved. This requires resourcefulness, fearlessness and persistence, and most of all: belief in yourself. Don’t let your dreams sit on the sidelines; jump in with all you’ve got.
So, are you ready to propel your career to the next level?
Here are some awesome career tips from our Group Director of Talent Acquisition, Susan, gave to take your career — and life — to the highest peak possible.
1. When one road is closed to you, another one awaits your entry
There is much wisdom to be taken from this simple piece of advice. As you begin your career, understand that not being hired for your dream job or failure in an entrepreneurial endeavor is not a reason to quit. Get up and try again. Susan was being turned down for a job she really wanted, only to be hired weeks later by another firm. This company later sent Susan to France, where she always dreamed of working and living. So, when one door closes, another one will open. Be patient yet assertive. And success will come.
“If you do not get something, there is a reason for that.”
2. It’s all about the journey — not the destination
It’s easy to get sidetracked by future goals. You may be planning to be at a certain position in your company by a certain age. It’s great to have such dreams, but don’t let it take you out of the here and now. Susan discusses that this is especially important in the digital age, where technology is driving disruption and change all the time. If you miss out on these opportunities, you lose the chance to adapt with the times and thus lose the possibility to grab new opportunities that could be much more interesting and rewarding.
“Focus on the journey, the learning…rather than what’s going to be the next stage.”
3. Work with those that challenge you to grow
When you choose a company to work for, don’t choose one because you think the job will be an easy payday. Sure, it may be nice for a while, but your skills will stagnate. The Group Director of Talent Acquisition noted that she chose to work for VEON because the company gave her the environment and resources she needed to build large-scale operations from scratch. When you are considering your next career move, choose the path that will challenge you to innovate. When you are put to the test, you’ll be surprised by the great things you can create.
4. Learn how to present yourself and build curiosity gaps
When you apply for a job, although it’s important to know about the company, you also have to able to present yourself well — and that doesn’t mean summarizing your life accomplishments. Instead, think about two to three great achievements and focus on how you can tell the story in an enticing way in just two to three minutes. This will help you in more than just interviews. It will help you when you network and talk to clients as well. If your self-introduction really shows how you stand out from other employees or businesses, you’ll be memorable to interviewers and customers alike. In the end, it will help you build your network, and create new career opportunities for you.
5. Make stuff happen!
The great entrepreneurs of today would not have reached where they are now without being able to make tough, risky decisions. You can’t be afraid to jump into a new challenge or endeavor, even if failure could very well happen. Susan states that it is essential that you be a pioneer in your career. You have to accept the fact that answers will not always be so clear and be willing to take bold chances. You also have to be prepared to understand a diverse and changing customer base and be ready to reach new markets throughout the globe. This is how you to build new paths and take your career to a higher level.
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