We’ve all got the tips on how to get a job- Always be on time; be the first one to arrive and the last one to leave (ermm hello Lagos traffic). Dress for the job, never stop learning and the list goes on and on! All of these tips are brilliant, and they have obviously worked for centuries but the truth is they have been recycled and handed down from generation to generation for years. This means that everybody is basically doing the same thing.
It is the sole desire of every career woman to inch up the career ladder. With the same tricks in circulation, you are no different from Sarah in the cubicle right next to yours who is also striving for her career advancement. There is little or no difference in approach to attaining that goal. How then do you stand out from the crowd? The only way is by trying something new and thinking outside the box. Wait a minute- there is no box!
There’s a big difference between then (the days of our fathers) and now. The world has become a global village; there is a myriad amount of opportunity at the tip of your fingers. It is left to you to break the norm and think beyond the restraining clichés that have ruled us for so long.
• Have a vision and stick to it: Plot a course for your career and take the steps you need to get there.
If you know where you want to go you stand a much better chance of getting there. Find out what skills you need to improve on, what knowledge you need to learn to move to the next stop on your career path.
• Use your Social media: social media is a powerful tool; your instagram is for more than just showcasing your hot new pumps, sneakers or Prada bag. Your twitter is not meant for “keeping up with the kardashians”, neither is your facebook for checking up on the lives of your estranged cousin or long lost friend. Social media if used correctly can be a tool to promote you. Social media is the new complimentary card; use it for personal branding, and as a professional platform to put you out there.
• Develop Yourself: Learn your strengths and your weaknesses know them and work to be better. Don’t just look to improve your weaknesses, build your strengths as well so you can do what you do well even better. Develop talents that others in your department or company do not have. These will make you indispensable.
• Skill sets is important: in the world we live in today, skill sets are really important than education. This might sound wrong, but being educated is no longer enough, you need to not only look good on paper, you also have to incubate your talents, work on them and you are sure to stand out.
• Network NetworkNetwork: the importance of this cannot be overemphasized. Build a professional network within and outside your field, keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities even when you are not looking. It will come in handy.
• Be competent: it is not enough for you to have skills; you also need to be competent. The most important thing you can do to advance you career is to do a kick ass job. Show that you can deliver results with ever task and role you have. Strive to be the best.
• Fake it until you make it: I’m not suggesting you lie on your resume or present yourself as someone you’re not. “Faking it” refers to those occasional lapses of self confidence we experience when faced with a challenging project. Self doubt can creep in on you like a cancer. If you find yourself suffering from a crisis of confidence, remember that positive behavior can easily overtake negativity and pull you out of your rut.
