What is a way that you can advance your career fast that doesn’t require you to complete a graduate degree or rescue your company from a hostile takeover bid? There are plenty of tweaks you can make to increase your value as an employee.
Whether you seek a raise or more job satisfaction, these simple tips can maximize your work performance. They’ll pay off quickly.
Slight changes you can make online for Greater Career Success
The internet has a wealth of knowledge and promotes your visibility. It’s a no-brainer to take advantage of virtual opportunities to climb the career ladder.
1. Edit your LinkedIn profile.
When’s the last time you updated your LinkedIn profile? Let your colleagues see your most recent accomplishments. New skills? Add them as well. At the minimum, update your profile picture. If your profile picture is 5 years old, you might update your picture. Turn your summary into a story. Research the most effective keywords that will make you stand out.
2. Manage your network.
Whatever software you use, a successful system will help you stay in touch and grow your network. Organize your contacts so you can follow up with the interesting graphic designer you met on the jogging trail.
3. Support others.
Networking is more effective and rewarding when you focus on giving to others. Take a second to retweet someone’s message or recommend a former intern on LinkedIn.
4. Follow industry news.
Impress others with your knowledge. Spend a few minutes between meetings scanning the top business blogs in your industry. You can sign up for Google Alerts to get new alerts for articles in your industry to share with your co-workers and peers.
5. Collect time saving apps.
Use technology to increase your productivity. Find a program that will remember your passwords or play phone tag for you. You could sign up for scheduling apps, such as Calendy, to have persons who need to meet with you during times convenient for you.
6. Monitor your time.
It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re browsing online. Set limits on your YouTube sessions if you become distracted. An excellent tool is Pomodoro, allows you to section time in chunks of 25 minutes with a 3-4 minute breaks in between to help you stay focused.
Offline Micro changes for Greater Career Success
Face-to-face interactions are important and have a dramatic impact. Especially when so much communication occurs electronically. See what a difference showing up in person can make.
7. Demonstrate initiative.
Identify what your boss considers being the top business priorities so you know where to devote your efforts. Contribute that goes above and beyond your job description.
8. Volunteer to help.
Make allies by being helpful and generous. Pitch in when your office mate is facing a tight deadline.
9. Speak up.
Taking part in meetings and business discussions will grow your confidence as they bring you extra approval. Don’t sit on the sidelines as a spectator. You have something to offer to the conversation, say it. You never know
10. Be enthusiastic.
Your boss will trust and value you more if you show that you’re invested in your career. Think about how your efforts contribute to the success of the company.
11. Express gratitude.
Let your colleagues know how much you appreciate them. Offer sincere praise and share credit for team projects. They’ll be more likely to return the favor.
12. Dress sharp.
Appearances count. Pay attention to the office culture, so you can choose an appropriate wardrobe even if there’s no formal dress code. One good rule of thumb is to dress like the position you want to hold in the future.
13. Join a professional association.
Membership has benefits, including networking and educational opportunities. Your employer may cover all or part of the cost.
14. Use your vacation days.
According to the Harvard Business Review, employees who take all of their vacation time have a 6.5% higher chance of receiving a promotion or a raise than their peers who are stockpiling their time off. Now, that’s a fun way to succeed in business.
Bottom Line
The average full-time work week in the United States is almost 50. Would you like a strategy to become more visible in your organization that doesn’t involve putting in more time at work? Making these small changes will add value to your career, while maintaining balance in your life.
