Professional Advancement: Getting off on the Right Foot
I speak at conferences, webinars, and events quite frequently to share advice on professional advancement. Often, I gear my advice towards people who are already well into their careers. I want to share some advice for those who are just getting started.
Over the weekend, I was speaking with my nephews and here are a few pieces of advice they said were most useful to them as they launched their careers:
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“Networking is the foundation of a successful career. It may seem intimidating at first but it’s really just connecting with people who have similar interests or careers.” Starting to build your network as early as possible will benefit you exponentially as you move forward in your career. Strive to build a community amongst your peers – over the years these connections will be mutually beneficial. I’ve shared networking tips here before, take a look though my feed for advice on building your network.
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“Speak up during team meetings if you have a thought or opinion. Everyone knows you’re younger, but senior leadership usually appreciates input because it shows confidence, and that you care about the business.” Be an engaged member of your team. By taking an active role as you’re getting started, you’ll learn faster and see much more positive results. Be bold!
- “The only way to make a professional achievement standout is by quantifying it with hard numbers.” This is essential! Keeping track of data points that exemplify your performance and achievements will be endlessly helpful. This information should go in your resume to demonstrate your skill and effectiveness. Additionally, these details will help your managers see the areas where you shine.
