Keeping your career moving is not as simple as you might expect, with many people finding that they quickly get stuck in a rut when it comes to their career and that they get too comfortable within their workplace. Then, if you want to make sure that your career keeps progressing even when it has the potential to go stale, here are some of the top steps that you can take.
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Get an MA
With the number of people with a BA degree continuing to rise, you now have to go one step further to go higher up your career ladder. Obtaining an MA or graduate degree can ensure that you can get the specialist knowledge that you need to succeed within your industry, as well as hone all of the appropriate skills for your career dreams. Getting an MA can allow you to update your knowledge of the latest developments within your industry and will make sure that you can learn about all of the latest industry methods and techniques. Not only this but achieving an MA may also help you to progress faster through your organization and give you the possibility of getting the specific role that you want. Then, it would help if you considered looking at the potential options that are out there when it comes to your Master’s degree, including an online masters degree in education from Exeter University, which can be useful for those who want to teach.
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Create a Plan
Sometimes, it is all too easy to get comfortable in your workplace and forget about your plans to move your career forward and achieve your dreams. Then, instead of simply relaxing in the job role that you have always done, you should try to create a plan of how you are going to progress your career within the next few years. This should include several steps, some of which you can achieve easily and reward yourself for. Although you might believe that creating a plan does nothing, in reality, a plan can help you to work out what steps are viable and what you need to do to get where you want to go. Not only this, but a plan can ensure that you can stay motivated as you will always be able to see what step in the plan you need to aim for next. Alongside this plan, you should also consider creating a vision of where you hope to be in terms of your career in a few years. This image of your dream will then help to give you the motivation that you need to push forward.
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Find Opportunity Everywhere
To keep your career moving forward, you also need to make sure that you take hold of every opportunity that arises and comes your way and that you see opportunity in everything that you do. For instance, you should volunteer to lead certain projects and take on extra responsibilities. Not only may you get paid for this and look good in the eyes of your employer, but doing this can also allow you to gain the leadership skills that you are sorely missing. You should also see opportunity in every little task that you complete. For instance, if you use the same boring software every day, you must see the usefulness in this in that it can help you to prepare for future roles where that software is integral to the position’s responsibilities.
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Stay Engaged
When you are working in a job that you believe does not give you the progression that you want, it is tempting to simply work on autopilot without engaging in what you are doing. However, it is paramount that you stay as engaged as possible every time you are at work. This can then ensure that you can get the most out of your workplace and can allow you to build on your skillset and experience for the future and other, more exciting roles, as well as enable you to impress your manager. This can then increase your chances of being in the front-running when the next promotion comes up. This will then ensure that you do not miss out on opportunities just because you are not passionate about the work that you do.
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Do Not Be Scared to Move Around
It would help if you also tried to build up the confidence that you need to make the big leap of moving around. Although, in the past, people remained loyal to one company for the entirety of their careers, this is now not the case, and many employees are not loyal and are not afraid of working for two or more companies throughout their careers. Then, you should not be afraid to move around when a better job position comes up in another firm, especially if this will allow you to work in a more comfortable and welcoming work environment and if this opportunity will rejuvenate and progress your stagnant career. Then, you should never be afraid to give in your notice and try new things, especially if you have the financial stability that is required for you to be able to do this without worry.
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Always Be on The Look Out
It can be easy to zone in on your current job and forget to keep on edge for news about jobs and career opportunities. However, there is no harm in occasionally browsing social media or looking at job boards for opportunities that may grab you and your attention. Then, instead of simply going to work and coming home, you should make sure that you are consistently aware of what is going on within your industry and that you are casually looking for positions and roles that may interest you.
Then, if you want to keep your career moving, there are many steps that you can take, from always being aware of the opportunities that arise to working hard toward a Master’s degree or another relevant qualification that can make your dreams come true.
