You’ve heard the old adage, “good things come to those who wait.” Well, don’t believe it. In the fast-paced modern business world, the opposite is more often true. Good things come to those who get after it.
What does this mean for your career? It means you have to take charge. You can’t settle into your current role and expect your employer to take care of you.
Developing an aggressive mindset for career development will keep you ahead of the competition. Here’s how to take advantage of the new business adage: “good things come to those who get after it.”
Don’t Get Comfortable
This is the age of the gig economy. It’s common for workers to hold multiple jobs and to move around from opportunity to opportunity. According to Statista, 57.3 million workers currently hold freelance positions.
Even outside the gig economy, job movement is very common. One report showed that the average worker switched jobs every 4.2 years. Change is even more common for younger workers. The same stats pointed to an average tenure of less than 3 years for workers 25 to 34 years old.
The lesson for you? Don’t get comfortable. Don’t settle into a position and assume you can count on it for years to come. Keep looking for new opportunities and for chances to push your career forward.
Keep Learning
The modern economy changes quickly. You need to keep adding to your skillset to avoid falling behind the competition. This requires a proactive approach on your part.
Research your industry and the type of jobs you’d like to get. Discover the in-demand skills that would make you a high-value candidate for those positions. Then, take the necessary steps to develop those abilities so that you’ll be ready for your dream job when it appears.
Become a Master Networker
Even in a tech-driven world, old-fashioned person-to-person skills remain important. In fact, the growth of technology only makes it easier to build those professional relationships. You have to know how to use the tools available effectively.
Work on your networking skills. You never know what connection will provide your dream opportunity. Here are a few steps you can take to expand your networking chops:
- Meet new people: Constantly add to your list of contacts. Actively seek out new professional connections.
- Build relationships: Deepen your bond with the people already in your network.
- Know how to ask for help: Learn how to effectively contact your contacts with a request for a career boost.
- Embrace both sides of the mentor/mentee relationship: Learn from the veteran coworkers around you. At the same time, look to teach younger colleagues who come into your orbit.
Build a Brand
How do potential employers see you? Or maybe you should ask yourself a more basic question: do potential employers see you at all?
By cultivating an employee brand, you can increase your chances of getting an unexpected opportunity. Companies often search for passive candidates. This means that by building a strong reputation in your industry, you might get approached with a surprise job offer.
Here are some steps you can take:
- Discover your best traits: Know which of your skills to highlight.
- Leverage social media: Go beyond a simple LinkedIn profile. Create a strong professional social media presence.
- Thought leadership: Indicate that you’re an innovator with a well-considered blog.
Turn to a Recruiter
You might not be able to find your ideal job on your own. By partnering with a top recruiter, like Recruiting In Motion, you tap into a broader set of opportunities.
Contact Recruiting In Motion today to start getting after your career goals.
