There will be times in your professional life when you feel stagnant, especially when work is not going smoothly or you are not receiving advancement opportunities. You may wonder if there is something that you are doing wrong or why your peers are making progress faster than you are.
In today’s competitive landscape, staying in demand is all about relevancy. To advance your career, are you prepared to acquire the skills, knowledge, and connections that companies are on the lookout for? Are you ready to market yourself to stand out from the crowd?
If your answer to these questions is “yes”, let us look at five actionable ways you can boost your career today.
1) Sign Up for a New Course or Programme and Keep Learning
Keep learning and never stop growing. Sometimes, this could mean picking up deep skills that are relevant to your industry. Other times, this could refer to learning new skills complementary to your current profession.
Part-time Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree and Postgraduate programmes offer busy adults the opportunity to upgrade their skills and knowledge to stay competitive.
In today’s VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) business climate, continuous learning is key for career development. It can help you move out of stagnancy in your current job, since developing your skill sets and attaining additional qualifications can increase your chances of getting a promotion.
2) Leverage LinkedIn as a Career Platform
People want to get to know their potential employees before hiring them. Most employment agencies and company managers will view a candidate’s social media profiles before offering an interview opportunity.
Keeping your LinkedIn profile professional and up to date is important. You never know when a hiring agency might view your profile, especially if you are actively seeking a job.
Keep the following in mind:
- A catchy but professional biography should be on your profile.
- Your profile image should be professional, as you want to look like a credible and confident person whom others want to be around.
- Your work experiences should be up to date.
- Responsibilities you carry out at work must be listed and updated regularly.
- Any new skills or qualifications you have acquired should be made visible.
3) Stay Abreast of Industry Changes
All industries are susceptible to change affected by technology, political climate, or the economy. As professionals, we need to constantly stay abreast of industry changes and how they can impact our businesses.
To keep in the know, cultivate a habit of following blogs, podcasts, and influencers active in your industry. Take an interest in what is happening in your professional circle by following various forums and partaking in discussions. The more informed you are, the better prepared you will be for what lies ahead.
4) Actively Manage Your Career Progression
With the accelerating pace of change in today’s world, it can be hard to predict what will happen to your industry and profession in the future. This is why it is important to actively manage your career progression.
This means having a clear idea of what you are good at, where your passions lie, and what are the jobs that you can best add value in. Set goals for yourself and actively work towards them. For example, if your plan is to rise through the ranks in a multinational corporation, you could volunteer for regional projects to build your track record.
Another way is to keep a lookout for the right career opportunities. With this in mind, make sure that your resume and portfolio are up to date. Make it a habit to check and update them frequently; perhaps once every quarter.
5) Build Your Professional Network
Actively building your professional network can help you stand out in today’s hyperconnected world. There are several ways to do this:
- Join an industry group or trade association.
- Attend networking events.
- Connect with your industry peers through Facebook and LinkedIn groups.
- Publish your professional opinions on public platforms such as LinkedIn, Medium, and Quora.
When you develop and enhance your professional network and presence, your profile would more likely come to mind when there are referral opportunities.
With over 500 academic programmes for higher learning and professional certification courses for skills development, we provide opportunities for you to always stay relevant. To speak to one of our consultants, please call 8613 8989 or email us at [email protected]