Many people start their career with dreams of rising to the top and rising extremely quickly. Not many take the time to map out a real trajectory and invest in the opportunities that may be right in front of them.
One of the most efficient and secure ways to climb the corporate ladder is to do it with your current employer by seizing opportunities and getting your hands dirty.
Keep your eyes open for opportunities
Opportunities to advance your career are all around but may not be as clear as you expect them to be. Sometimes these opportunities are learning opportunities that will benefit you in the long run. Communicating your career aspirations and goals to your manager will also allow you to be an obvious choice for any opportunities that may arise.
Let your work speak for itself
When it comes to growing within the company you work for, you should never sell yourself. Let the work you do and your character sell you. For leaders looking to promote employees or find staff for certain opportunities, identifying standout employees is made easier as they know automatically which employees display professional conduct and deliver excellent work.
No task is below you
It's very important to remember that no job or task is below you. It's also important to have a can-do attitude. This attitude can help you further your career and does not go unnoticed. Managers recognise when you go beyond the scope of your own role and recognise this want to grow and develop.
Pay attention to numbers
Not too many people love to work with numbers, statistics or quantifiable results. However, these are important metrics that you need to pay attention to. A part of your role is to understand and measure the effect you have on the business, be that reviewing deliverables, website visits, budget etc. Understanding date metrics will provide insight into the work you do and any issues that you may need to address.
Be a clear communicator
Growing in a company requires clear communication. It's important to be able to communicate clearly, whether that's speaking to staff or stakeholders, briefing other staff on work requirements or expressing yourself in a performance review. Communicating clearly makes it easier for everyone to do their job and allows you to be clear with management on your goals, ambitions and even expectations.
Be proficient in your role before pushing for a promotion
Those who generally receive a promotion don't seem to ask for them, they come. This is generally because they work hard and are proficient at their current job and either naturally move into the next role or are recognised as outgrowing the current role. Pushing too hard, too early for a promotion can set you up for failure. You may eventually get promoted, but the level could be above your expertise which can result in numerous career issues and unwanted stress.