By SarawakYES
http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/09/19/how-to-get-ahead-in-your-career/
THE job market these days is more competitive than ever. More people are often competing for the same job, and being able to advance your career can at times be incredibly challenging as everyone looks to move ahead.
If you’re ambitious and want to be successful, there are no free passes to climbing the career ladder. People who wait and hope that they will be picked for a promotion will most likely be waiting a long time – resulting in them becoming frustrated, disappointed and demotivated. You need to work hard and you need to take advantage of any opportunities that come along, which could give your career a boost.
The great thing is, there are a number of things you can do to improve your chances of standing out in the crowd and being rewarded.
Here are some tips on how you can elevate yourself and, at the same time, work towards advancing your career.
1. Be confident
This is not something that comes naturally to everyone. Some people are just confident, while many are shy and reserved. However, even for those who do not automatically exude confidence, there are certain things you can do: focus on your body language, walk with more purpose when moving around the office; be aware of the tone you use when talking; speak up during meetings and let your opinions be heard. The ability to come across as confident can make people trust you, have confidence in you, and see you as a leader.
2. See failures as opportunities
It may be difficult not to feel disappointed if you make a mistake at work. But what’s important is that you don’t let it be a setback. Instead, learn from the experience and use it as an opportunity to understand how you can do better in the future. You just have to look around at some of the world’s most successful business people to realise that failure can be overcome — Bill Gates did not succeed with his first company, but he picked himself up and started Microsoft, while Steve Jobs was booted out of Apple, but returned and made Apple the company it is today.
3. Be flexible
While your job may have come with a particular description about your responsibilities, you don’t need to be that rigid.
With companies and jobs constantly evolving, so are the demands on workers. So if the needs of your employer are changing, be open and willing to show some flexibility by taking on new or additional responsibilities.
4. Acquire new skills and knowledge
In an ever-changing world and as technologies continue to change the way we work, there is a need to be constantly learning. While your job may have been accepted based on the skills and talents you had at the time, you need to be willing to pick up new skills and knowledge that you can then apply in the workplace as your role changes, or as the company evolves with the times. By demonstrating the ability to adapt to the changing environment, it makes you more valuable.
* This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (Azam) Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
