These days accelerating your career is determined by much more than the effort you put in during your 9-5...
Most people want to become successful in their jobs so they can get ahead. However, the problem is they are unwilling to put in the extra hours to make things work. To be the best you have to become the “go-to” person in your field – put in the extra effort and you’ll soon accelerate your career.
You should aim for more than just working for the sake of working. What is your ambition? Are you passionate about what you do? Are you driven to become a leader in your field? These are all important questions you need to ask yourself before mapping out your career success.
Are you passionate about your job?
This may seem a bit cliché, but it holds weight and relevance for career acceleration. If your only motivation is leaving at the end of the day, you’re in the wrong job. You have to be passionate and motivated to do what you do, especially if you are to put in the effort after hours. Consider a acquiring learning new skills through a short online course. Not only will it be beneficial to your career, but it will also ensure you're staying ahead of others who are on the same level as you are.
If you’re a traditional print writer for example, but you would really like to get into digital writing you need to be willing to start your own blog, do a course in SEO, research ways to make your content appealing etc., and to put in all this effort you’ll need to love what you do or it’ll just get you nowhere slowly. Think about which skills could get you further and make you invaluable to your company and others too.
Udemy is a world-recognised online institution looking to give people like yourself the opportunity to learn anything. With over 40 000 courses on offer, you have endless opportunities to learn a new skill which will ensure that you stay relevant in a competitive job market.
Work towards becoming an expert in your field
The beauty in social media is that these days anyone can become a leader in their field. You can start a blog that contains information that other professionals in your business can learn from. Discuss things like new skills, what you need to know to get ahead, why you think it’s important in your field, and trends and news.
Start your own projects
Think of your next career move when you decide which skills to start developing. Some of the skills you could develop in your current job, but others you’ll have to initiate yourself. Once you’ve taken the relevant courses to advance your career, consider taking on a few freelance jobs to determine how well your courses are paying off. The more freelance work you get, the more you’ll see what the industry needs. Then, as soon as one project is finished, be sure to put it up on your blog and allow for insightful commentary. This will help you to start a community and give you the opportunity to make valuable connections for your network.
Read: Creative career opportunities: What are your options?
Remember to maintain a balance
You may think that the above steps to advance your career will take up a lot of your time, probably too much time. That said, don’t spread yourself too thin. It’s important to work out a healthy work-life balance to ensure you don’t burn out before becoming an authority in your industry.
Family and friends are also important so don’t neglect them or the road to success will be a very lonely one. Try to involve your friends and family where possible. But also learn when to take a step back from work and appreciate what you have.
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