5 Effective Ways To Get Ahead In Your Career

When it comes to your career, you should treat it as if it were a shark, and no, it doesn't mean you should be attacking swimmers at the beach. Rather, if it's not always moving, it dies. No matter how old you are or how long you've been involved in your career (which is not the same as simply having a job; there's a difference. More on that later), you should always be on the alert for opportunities to advance it.

Sometimes it's easier said than done. It's amazing how many plans change or are cancelled, how many opportunities are missed, when life gets in the way. That's why we're here: to get wise on some effective ways to keep that career moving forward.

Establishing a strong visible presence at your job and making contacts are two ways to help advance your career

A Career Vs. A Job
First, let's establish the difference, hinted at earlier, between a career and a job. A job is something you to do make a living and keep yourself financially afloat, but not something you intend on spending many years of your life doing, like, for example, working the drive-thru window at the local fast-food joint. A career is more of a long-term commitment; something that you decided you could do for years on end by virtue of the fact that you have talents, skills, and interests in that particular field.

Of course, if you're having problems deciding on a career, you may get some pointers from "10 Steps To Choose The Right Career".

Get Certified
There are certain fields that let you get certification, which makes you stand out from the pack. Certification is official recognition that you have a particular set of skills. For instance, the article "4 Ways to Further Your Construction Education" points out that there are an increasing amount of construction certification programs out there, and getting certified is the first step in becoming a manager. This sort of arrangement is not exclusive to just the construction industry, so look into it.

Get Involved In Continuing Education
Knowledge is power, and going back to school is a good way of giving your career more strength. Consider a 2-year associate's degree or a standard four-year degree program, attending classes at night or perhaps even online. Many businesses will even help pay for your education, provided of course you intend to stay working for them for a specific period of time!

Schmooze
As the old cliché goes, "Sometimes it's not what you know, it's who you know!" Get out there and make connections. Get a LinkedIn account if you don't have one already and join groups that are dedicated to subjects relating to your industry and career. It's amazing how often a connection can make things so much easier, and since word of mouth is the most effective advertising, getting your name out there and spoken in good terms can only help you advance.

Pick People's Brains
Related to schmoozing, this involves talking with people who've already done what it is you're trying to do, the people who came before you. Find out what kind of obstacles and pitfalls await. Get wise to what sort of expectations and qualifications are expected in someone who wants to advance in your particular career. Get advice on what professional organizations you should become a member of.

Be Present
During an interview done years ago with the alternative rock group REM, the journalist asked what the band's key to success was. The answer came back "We showed up to rehearsals on time". Being where you're supposed to be on the job, showing up on time, making yourself visible, these are things that get people thinking about you, and that means increasing the chances of you being considered for advancement. Such a simple thing, and yet so profoundly effective.

There are more ways out there to advance your career, but these five are a very respectable start. Good luck!