Actionable Tips on How to Improve Your Career - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Actionable Tips on How to Improve Your Career - Introvert Whisperer Actionable Tips on How to Improve Your Career So, you are working in an entry-level position, waiting for a raise, or having to cope with the toxic office environment? Things are not going the way you intended, but do not fret. Career is not something that just happens to you, like a random string of life events. It must actively be nurtured and worked on. Therefore, go through your past experiences, assess the present situation, and then look ahead to future action. There are several tactics to ponder and they can take you in radically different directions. They have one thing in common, though: they promise to boost your income and level of professional fulfillment at the same time. A roadmap for success In a nutshell, you have to know where you are right now and where you would like to be in a few months or years time. So, use a broad lens to observe your personal and professional life. In particular, take your time evaluating a trajectory of your career. Be honest about where your dissatisfaction stems from and identify where the room for improvement is. Take into account your interests, skills, ambitions, personality, strong suits, and financial situation. Come up with a plan and set clear, tangible objectives for 2018 and beyond. First off, note that side gigs are a smart tactic, especially if you need to supplement your main income. However, it is also possible to find something that could open new doors in your professional life. To pull it off, you should start a side hustle based on the work skills and experience you already possess. You may be able to make a semi-pivot in career and secure a new, more lucrative job. At the very least, you will have extra cash on hand and expand your business network. Moreover, these gigs can also be excellent testing ground for launching your own entrepreneurial idea and project. Furthermore, keep an eye on seasonal work and part-time job openings. They may be just what you need to alleviate monthly budget fluctuations. But, there could be more in store for you, provided that you avoid things like commission-based selling gigs. For instance, let us say you manage to get a customer service job. You start working with people on a regular basis and that helps you develop soft skills, improve emotional intelligence, and learn to handle managerial duties. This brings us to our next pointâ€" investing in yourself. The art of honing skills Another course of action involves diligently working on your potential. So, commit to taking your skills to the next level. Bear in mind that specialization is the key to setting yourself apart from cohorts of other pros in the market. And once you acquire or improve a new skill, you can make good use of it on a freelance basis. Doing the same thing you do full-time could be a win-win for you, but there could be one obstacle. Namely, check if your employer has “non-compete clauses” that could prevent you from utilizing your talents outside the office. I any event, you have a plethora of resources at your disposal for improving skills. There have never been so many online learning hubs teeming with free and paid courses. If you were always struggling with numbers, why not obtain a diploma of accounting?  Upgrade your resume and accomplishment to rise above the competition. There are some alternative tactics as well, such as volunteering in exchange to free classes and educative resources. For example, MBA programs and major companies tend to offer improve-based workshops for public speaking. Get ahead of the game While you’re at it, develop a deeper understanding of your industry sector and occupation. Keep up the pace with emerging trends and game-changing technologies. You want to make certain your skill set is future-proof. The ultimate strategy is simple: you barter your in-demand skills and knowledge to find leads and then work on converting them to clients. In the process, you get to know how it is to negotiate and fight for your own skin. This is a valuable lesson hard to draw from other people’s experiences. But, it is also a process of trial and error, so do not be discouraged by initial setbacks. Finally, those who are happy with their job for the most part, but feel that they are advancing at a sluggish pace, might just need to push harder. Get to know what opportunities for career advancement, growth, and promotion exist within the company. Ask about the official protocol on overtime and set yourself up to take on additional projects. Be ready to jump to the occasion when the higher-ups decide to delegate tasks. Do not hesitate to venture outside your department and comfort zone. Going an extra mile could really help you move ahead in the current company. Climbing up the career ladder There are few things as unsettling as that dreaded feeling of being stuck in the same 9-5 loop. To level up in career, you cannot just sit and wait for opportunities to come your way. Embrace a proactive approach and keep an open mind. Know where your strengths and weaknesses are. Explore the avenues in your company and then look beyond its corridors. Complement your full-time job with a nice side hustle that you actually enjoy. Do not hesitate to forge your own path to financial independence and prosperity. All in all, you have to stand up for yourself and take responsibility for your actions. ISABEL FRANK WILLIAM