20 Ways to Advance Your Career
Advancing in your career doesn't always require huge undertakings such as
obtaining a graduate degree or being promoted to a higher position. Often
it's the little things that help you get ahead. Here are 20 things you can
start to do today to achieve your career goals:
- Develop a mentor relationship with at least one individual in your
organization, and strive to stay in touch with influential members of your
organization.
- Invite yourself to meetings where things happen.
- Read, read, read to keep up-to-date on issues and trends in consumer
affairs.
- Sharpen your presentation skills.
- Don't promise more than you can deliver, but deliver all that you promise
it when you promised it.
- Turn challenges into opportunities. Accept gracefully those seemingly
unrewarding, distracting little assignments others often avoid. Handle them
quickly and thoroughly without fanfare or complaint, and your supervisors
and colleagues will see you as a team player.
- Seek out lateral and upward movement in other departments after a
reasonable time, and have a career plan.
- Take risks and don't be complacent.
- Remain visible in your organization. Make contributions to the Internet,
Intranet, company newsletter, market updates, etc.
- Take a finance class so that you understand and can talk about the state
of business with company leaders.
- Obtain copies of your company's annual operating plans and identify ways
that you can help the business achieve its goals.
- Pay attention to the larger consumer affairs issues. Learn about
governmental changes, product technologies, medicine, science and cultural
issues and what your competition is doing in consumer affairs.
- Don't ever burn bridges internally or externally. You never know who may
end up being your boss.
- Share your best ideas on how to improve your business, your business
practices and your customer handling skills.
- Boosting your career may mean changing your job. Stay flexible and open
to change.
- Send out monthly and annual summary reports with actionable data.
- Be honest, ethical and fair.
- Value everyone as a member of the team. Listen to and care about them,
and recognize their individual talents.
- Learn about cutting edge technology or practices in other industries and
explore ways to apply or adapt them for your business.
- Make good connections with other consumer affairs professionals and
continue to network.
