I’m not going to beat about the bush: the last few years have been a special kind of dumpster fire. There are some terrible things afoot. Employment rates continue to fluctuate wildly because of it all and I know that can be terrifying. However there is also some good stuff coming out of all this too.
No matter your job/career/business having status at the minute, you should know that you absolutely can accelerate your career right now.
Remember, a single job is not your career. Your career is a collection of those jobs/freelance experiences/businesses. So while you may be unemployed, taking a gig to tide you over, on furlough, or doing just fine, there are actions you can implement right now to get things on track and actually accelerate your career.
If you want your career to be bigger, to be better, to do more than before you need to take action. Not huge actions. Small, sometimes totally imperfect, big time baby steps ... actions.
I don't want you to get bogged down in a major career overhaul, I want you to get moving on these actions so I put together the 5 moves to accelerate your career here for you below.
Do one of these tiny actions each week and you'll see major career movement. On to your 5 Moves To Accelerate Your Career:
1. Email a different industry connection each day this week.
Keeping your network up-to-date, warm, and dynamic is genuinely the best thing you can do for your career.
Keeping yourself top-of-mind, keeping yourself informed, keeping yourself connected can do exponentially more than a bag full of specialized skills and deep-dive know-how.
The old adage ‘it's not what you know but who you know’ truly is a force. People recommend other people that they know, like and trust. Someone else may know more than you but if you know the right person … the job is yours. The project is yours. The corner office is yours.
Continue to build that know, like and trust factor throughout the year and your career will expand in leaps and bounds.
2. Follow one industry leader, innovator or insider each day on some social platform.
Interact with them. Get to know them and they’ll get to know you. You’ll be surprised what kind of mentorship and opportunity can come from being actively engaged on the socials.
Another old adage to take in here is: ‘the only way to get better at tennis by playing someone better than you’.
This goes for most things. To become better at something, anything, you need to be challenged, you need to be questioned, you need to have to fend off a few serves flying at your face at full force.
The best way to be challenged is through mentorship, guidance, and inspiration. You can find those things by becoming immersed in the worlds of leaders, innovators, and insiders within your industry.
Follow them, interact with them, get to know what they know, and ideally get them to know you!
3. Research.
Spend a few minutes this week researching your industry and your role. Check out industry news, research your company’s competitors, research the salaries for your role, research how/what tech will be changing your role.
Information and learning are keys to growing.
Knowledge truly is power. The more you know about your role within the industry and what makes you unique and impactful, the more bargaining power you have when it comes to getting the initiatives you want, being on the team you want, and getting the money you deserve.
Spend this week learning all you can but don't let it only be this week. Keep on top of this info. Don't let it go stale. Make sure you're in the know and use that knowledge.
4. Get Skilled.
Sign yourself up get a certificate in a new skill. It could be software, hardware, communications, leadership… almost anything. Ask HR if there is a company Learning & Development program. Or maybe they reimburse some tuition? If you’re unemployed, look at the job descriptions for that next, great gig you have your eye on. Is there a skill gap you need to fill? There are a million inexpensive (and free) options for e-learning. Research the course/certificate/program you need and get started.
5. Update.
Update your LinkedIn, resume & portfolio. If you are currently looking then this needs to be priority number one. You have to sell yourself into the gig you want and these are your sales materials. If you’re employed but thinking about moving on, when you’re ready to jump ship you’ll be all good to go AND you won’t tip off your boss. Nothing is more of a red flag than an employee who suddenly has an updated profile. This will help you keep track of your latest/greatest accomplishments so that when you talk to management about that raise it will be all right there.
None of these actions take a ton of work, but they do take action. Just take these tiny steps and they will lead to major career acceleration!
Yours in career action goodness,
EBS
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EB Sanders
Career Coach for Creative Types
My Website | Free Stuff | Pinterest
Helping you figure out what you want to do and how to do it your way!