Accelerate Your Career: In 12 Easy Steps

Congratulations on taking the first step to accelerating your career! Accelerating one’s career means different things to different people. For some, it may mean getting promoted. To others, it may mean advancing career development and proficiencies. To others still, it may involve becoming an expert in their field. The good news is, by seeking to strengthen your competitive edge, you will position yourself to reach the mission you have set forth for yourself.

There are several key steps to accelerating your career. Let’s explore the top 12!

Self-Promotion

The first step is to learn to promote yourself and the unique value you have to offer. Learning to toot your own horn and make your accomplishments known to your boss and to other superiors within the company requires shameless self-promotion. Being shy and quiet about your contributions won’t help you advance. Self-promotion is a critical component to getting promoted, furthering your career development, and/or becoming known as an expert. In order to accelerate in your career, you must learn to market yourself and your talents, which is only achieved through confident self-promotion.

Take Initiative

Don’t wait for your boss to deliver you new opportunities on a silver platter. Take the bull by the horns and pursue self-improvement. Establish your own goals. Present them to your boss. Make it easy for him or her to review you by handing them all of your accomplishments from the past quarter. Obtain career coaching on your own. Strive to make the changes you wish to see in your career instead of waiting for them to be delivered to you.

Perpetually Advance Your Knowledge and Skills

Continually be engaged in the process of learning new skills in order to advance your career. Take continuing education classes. Read trade journals and business books. Learn from your mentors, co-workers, and even from your mistakes. You never know when you may learn something that will catalyze new ideas to grow business.

Pursue All Projects with Passion and Enthusiasm

By pursuing all things in your career with passion, you demonstrate to your boss that you appreciate your position and that you authentically care about what you are accomplishing. This will inevitably reward you with new projects and opportunities to advance your career.

Be an Innovative Change Agent

Thinking outside-of-the-box with innovative strategies for revenue enhancement, cost savings, process improvements, or organizational effectiveness. Taking leadership initiative to create change will garner you company-wide recognition and give you a competitive edge.

Maintain a Positive Attitude

A positive attitude is essential for career progression. A positive attitude in the process of tackling new challenges and in overcoming any obstacles that come your way will ensure success in the evolution of your career. People want to work with upbeat people. You will be appreciated by your boss and team members on a deeper level by always being positive.

Sharpen Your Competitive Edge

Examine what sets you apart from your competition. Then, take the necessary steps needed to heighten these attributes with continual actions leading to self-improvement. By seeking to promote and fortify your competitive edge, you will position yourself to be considered for exciting new opportunities.

Be a Strong Team Player

Contributing to a team and supporting your co-workers within a team environment demonstrates your abilities to collaborate and to work efficiently and proactively with others. Encourage, praise, and validate the accomplishments of those on your team, which will inevitably be reciprocated to you.

Search for Mentors

Pursuing role models and individuals with experience and knowledge in your chosen field will steer you in the right direction for progressing in your career. Cultivating a relationship with a mentor will be tremendously rewarding from a professional perspective. You will most likely be astonished by the results.

Update your Resume

Throughout a position, it is preeminent to continually take inventory of your quantifiable accomplishments in order to update your resume. Even when you aren’t actively looking for a position, you always want to have a resume ready and available when opportunities present themselves. Pursue a certified professional resume writer to compose your resume to ensure that you have a powerful marketing document that is in alignment with the current standards of the Professional Association of Resume Writers.

Network

Networking will accelerate your career in fast and dynamic ways! If you promote yourself and your competitive edge with individuals with power and influence, you will make invaluable connections which will help you climb the ladder to success.

Seek Out New Opportunities

Successful people are always pursuing new opportunities for career advancement. Keep your mind and eyes open to possibilities for promotions. Also, use your creativity and problem-solving capabilities to strategize improvements to your company, which will in turn create new opportunities for your career.