Surreal Ways To Achieve Career Growth

Whatever field you are in, whether you’re a salesman, a marketing assistant, or a professor, achieving career growth is probably one of your ultimate goals upon entering your organization. You may feel that being promoted and moving up the corporate ladder is difficult because of the strict competition in the corporate world—and you are right. Being successful in your chosen career is indeed difficult. Just like you, many wanted to go up the corporate ladder, but few are chosen. Nonetheless, achieving career growth is not impossible—you just need to possess the right skills and the right characteristics. Here, I provide you seven ways to help you become successful in your chosen field.

1.Know what you want and set your goals

Photo courtesy of Swen-Peter Ekkebus via Flickr, Creative Commons The first step and probably the most important one in achieving anything is knowing what you want. You cannot accomplish anything if you yourself don’t know what you wanted to accomplish in the first place. Ask yourself what really matters to you and what you are willing to sacrifice to achieve it. Once you have a clear vision on what you wanted in your career, set specific goals that will help you get it. Make sure that your goals are attainable and time-bound, that is, specify when is the exact time you wanted to achieve your goal. Setting goals not only gives you the power to control your career; it also helps you determine whether you are indeed accomplishing something.

2. Have the right attitude and personality

Photo courtesy of Simon Claassen via Flickr, Creative Commons Your attitude toward your job, as well as your personality, greatly impacts your chances of being promoted. Even if you are smart and knowledgeable about your profession, chances are, you will not get promoted if you have a bad attitude and if you always act grumpy towards your co-workers, or worse, your boss. Having a positive disposition at work will do you wonders. In fact, research shows that 40 percent of happy people are more likely to be promoted. A positive person is more noticed by superiors and is promoted earlier compared to their negatively-minded counterparts. Moreover, a person showing a positive attitude is supported more by his colleagues and coworkers. So to achieve career growth, start showing a positive attitude toward your work, especially when needed. Being cheerful at work will not only up your chances of being promoted, it will also make you enjoy your work more.

3. Build your own network

Photo courtesy of reynermedia via Flickr, Creative Commons In order to become successful, you need to invest time in creating beneficial relationships. In this case, the saying “No man is an island” rings true. As cliché as it may sound, no person can survive without needing the help of other people. This is also true for the corporate world. Building relationships with colleagues and superiors who have the power to advance your career will be beneficial for your career growth.

4. Give your 100 percent and ask for more responsibility

Photo courtesy of Mish Sukharev via Flickr, Creative Commons To succeed in your career, you need to make sure that you always give 100 percent of what you can offer. Being dedicated to your job not only shows that you value your work; it also shows your employers that you are valuable to their company. No company wants an employee who treats their work like play. Hence, if you wanted to climb the corporate ladder, show your superiors how dedicated you are to your job and to your company. Always exceed your superiors’ expectations and take on any task that you can accomplish. In addition, ask your boss if you could take additional responsibilities. Asking for greater responsibility shows that you are now ready for a higher position. By doing this, you will be trained in other aspects of your field, and you will also develop a reputation for dependability.

5. Communicate effectively

Photo courtesy of Sebastien Wiertz via Flickr, Creative Commons The ability to communicate effectively is a must-have skill whatever your profession is. Effective communication skills are fundamental to your success, either in your personal life or in the corporate world. Successful people and professionals know how to talk and captivate their audiences. They know how to inspire others and how to encourage others to support them. Knowing how to communicate your message is as important as being good at your job.

6. Ask for what you want

Photo courtesy of Steve wilson via Flickr, Creative Commons Sometimes, the best way to get a promotion or a raise is to ask for it. In some cases, your superior will not readily know what you wanted if you do not tell him or her. Thus, asking what you wanted in your job, may it be a salary increase or a job promotion, is the most vital step in getting it. So for instance, if you wanted to be promoted, inform your boss about it. Tell your boss in writing the responsibilities you are undertaking and all the qualifications that make you suitable for the job you are vouching for. Make sure, though, that your demands are reasonable and you are qualified for the job. If in case your boss declines your request, ask your boss what are the tasks that you need to accomplish in order to get that coveted promotion. Do not be afraid to ask for what you want—this just shows your superiors that you are passionate about your chosen field.

7. Have a big brain and a bigger heart

Photo courtesy of le vent le cri via Flickr, Creative Commons And last but not the least, you need to have a big brain and a bigger heart in order to succeed in your career. Having a big brain means that you always make sure that you are on top of your game and that you are willing to take on all the challenges needed to succeed. Try to learn something new every day. Just because you already have a job, it doesn’t mean that you should become stagnant and stop learning. Always trying to improve yourself would not only increase your chances of being promoted; it will also make you a well-rounded person. Plus, the skills you learn along the way will come in handy in the future. Aside from having a big brain, having a big heart is necessary for you to succeed in your career. Having a big heart means that you are willing to share your skills and experiences to other people. By doing this, you will not only create satisfying relationships, but you will also be showing a positive attitude toward others, which is needed in most professions. Career growth is coveted by all us. However, not everyone gets it. It requires dedication, hard work, and other sets of characteristics to become successful. Nonetheless, even though achieving career growth may look difficult, it is not impossible. Just be sure to follow these seven tips on how to experience career success, and you are on your way to a great, satisfying career.