If you have been in a career for a while now, and even if you’ve only been doing what you’ve been doing for a short amount of time, then you are likely to want to make a plan for the future.
Do you see yourself in this career for the rest of your life? Or do you plan to move on or work up the career ladder in what you are already doing?
One thing you need to do to see where you are at with things is look at how you see your work day.
If you are just going through the motions until it is home time on a Friday, then you aren’t working with the right attitude for success.
In this competitive day and age, you do have to go the extra mile in your career, in order to show that you have what it takes. But what does ‘going the extra mile’ really look like? Here are some ideas to think about.
1. Work Closely With Your Boss
There are several reasons to work closely with your boss.
For starters, it helps you to learn from them, if you are planning on working your way up the career ladder. But it also helps you to succeed, if you are part of their success journey too.
If you have a role in helping your boss to do well, then you are going to do well too.
So don’t underestimate the value of working closely with your boss, in order to help your career.
2. Further Education
For some career paths, there comes a time when you may have to accept that in order to do better and succeed, you need to go back to school or do some online training to be able to take your career to the next level.
Here are some reasons to consider returning to education as an adult.
Access higher paid jobs.
With limited qualifications, there are only so many career avenues that you can consider. Obtaining a degree can open up new opportunities – which includes higher paid job positions. Breaking into some industries requires specialist qualifications, while other employers may simply require a degree of any kind to be considered.
If you’ve been eager to get a higher paid job but you find that employers are constantly requesting a degree, consider whether it could be time to return to education so that you can obtain this credential.
Change career path.
Changing your career path may require getting new qualifications in some cases. While you may have a degree, it may not be relevant to the new career that you have your sights set on.
For example, you may find that your art degree is of no use when trying to get a career in tech. Going back to college could be a chance to obtain new qualifications that could allow you to change your career path and pursue a more rewarding job.
Give yourself a competitive edge.
There are instances where earning extra qualifications could give you a competitive edge. For example, many employers do not require a candidate with a Masters degree, but there are positions where having one can certainly help set you apart.
This is particularly the case when it comes to senior positions in sectors like education – studying a Master of Education online could help you access roles at prestigious schools or higher ranking roles.
Extend your passion for learning.
Returning to education needn’t solely be about career advancement. Some of us enjoy learning and can feel lost or unfulfilled after leaving school or graduating.
Returning to education could be a chance to extend your passion for learning – whether you decide to study a Masters or an entirely new course. As an adult, you may even find that you’re more engaged and that you have a better idea of where your passions lie.
Do it as a personal challenge.
Returning to education can also be a personal challenge. If you haven’t got a degree, you may feel that it is something that you need to tick off your bucket list.
It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t lead to a career – it could be a challenge you want to do for yourself, like running a marathon or learning an instrument. It’s this motivation that leads many retirees to take up degrees.
Of course, the training and education you will need will be industry specific. So do your research to check what would be best for you to study.
3. Be Proactive
In any walk of life, if you wait around for people to tell you to do things, then it can mean that you quickly become expendable.
They could get anyone to follow commands, right? So be proactive, and take the lead or use your initiative on things.
Don’t rush into things, unless you are confident, but equally, don’t hang around waiting for others.
If there is something that you can do, then do it. Be proactive is what makes a great leader, and can help to make a great career for you.
4. Honesty
I don’t think that anyone likes bad news (it is called bad news after all). But what more people dislike is when people are not honest or upfront about things and when they’re not told from the start that there is something wrong.
So be honest, and deal with issues as and when they arise. It is easier to find solutions sooner rather than later.
