Becoming a successful professional takes a lot of hard work. ADEMOLA ALAWIYE writes on how individuals can improve their careers
Success has been attributed to many different things, such as luck, being in the right place at the right time, hard work, perseverance and having higher intelligence levels.
Taking your time to ensure that you choose an appropriate career is not a ticket to success. It is only a step towards it, according to experts.
When you start out, it is important for you to work towards improving as time goes on. Without this, you may find yourself wondering if you made the right choice.
To ensure that you continuously improve your career and make a success of it, experts recommend the following steps:
Take stock
Just as it is important for an entrepreneur to review his business, it is necessary for you to evaluate and re-evaluate your career from time to time. You need to ensure that it is in agreement with the lifestyle you want. Just because someone else may do this or that to develop their career path doesn’t mean you need to. Do what is best for you.
Seek knowledge continuously
It does not matter whether you are called an information ‘freak.’ Experts say as long as you remember that too much of everything is bad, you should seek as much knowledge and information as possible. This can be easily achieved if you read widely or study ‘endlessly.’ The more knowledge you acquire, the better you are for it.
Protect your health
This involves regular exercises and eating properly. According to experts, when you exercise regularly, you stand a chance of boosting your productivity. And that will only help you on your way up, while also saving you thousands of naira.
Follow technology
In today’s world, your chances of making a success of your career can be hampered greatly if you are not tech savvy. You need to know how to use modern gadgets to get your job done. You also need to be able to adapt to new technology easily. Get training and work towards acquiring skills in this area. The possibility of finding someone who is not computer literate may sound ludicrous but there are many people in this category. As stated earlier, the more you know, the better you are for it.
The Global Jobs Network, which advocates jobs for everyone, says the following tips will go a long way in boosting your career.
Feed your CV
CV refers to curriculum vitae and it is a kind of guide to your career that records your skills as you expand them. You are required to update the CV every month with what you’ve done and what you’ve learnt. It is a comprehensive summary of all your achievements in one place. It should include your education, technical qualifications, past experience, hobbies and your projects. In a competitive market, your CV requires to be memorable. The language should be clear, legible and reader-friendly.
Keep focus on your career goal
If you have some particular job in your mind, never lose sight of it. You should be up-to-date with industry news and its developments. Are employers recruiting for this kind of jobs at the moment? Make yourself eligible for such jobs with the qualification they need. For the self-employed, it is important to check out what others are doing in their businesses. You can also make changes as per requirements.
Collect more certificates
You can stay ahead of your peers by continuing your education. If you are working, you can continue your studies with the Open Learning University.
Take on a leadership challenge
Go for more opportunities where you have chances to win the race. Don’t feel any hesitation from taking and offering advice to people. It will help in bringing out the leadership qualities in you. Through this method, you also learn a lot about your strengths.
Keep in touch with your network
Always remain in touch with your ex-colleagues who can help you to boost your career. Drop an email or make a call time to time. Whenever they find some good opportunity for you, they will let you know about it.
Timing
Time management is extremely important. Always follow the right time for meetings and even complete projects beforehand.
Work smarter, not harder
Recognise the work within your job, and prioritise accordingly. Think. What is the first priority of your company and complete the task. Smarter work gets more recognition than hard work.
Collect knowledge
Keep up-to-date with current affairs and latest news within your industry. More knowledge will make you different from your colleagues and friends.
Don’t procrastinate
Find out what consumes your time, and stop doing it; instead, focus on what is important. It will not only help you in increasing your productivity but will also help in boosting your confidence, which will further your positive attitude.
Develop an online presence
Presence on Internet matters more. Go and sign up on LinkedIn, Facebook and SkillPages. Your first goal should be that your profile appears on the top so that more and more recruiters have a glance of it.