5 Ways You Can Progress Your Career in Business

Career progression is something every employee should consider throughout their workplace journey. To avoid complacency or becoming stuck in a career rut, it's important to review your goals and the direction in which you wish to steer your career.

Whether you are looking to be promoted, secure your next role in an organization, or put yourself forward for an internal management or leadership position, taking active steps to shape your career path will not only ensure you achieve your goals but can also increase your job satisfaction, drive and fulfillment at work. This article will outline five ways in which you can progress your career in business.

Find A Mentor

Having the guidance, expertise and support of someone who can help you rise through the ranks within your current organization or advance your career elsewhere can be invaluable. A mentor will have the experience and knowledge to help you overcome obstacles, give you constructive feedback and identify gaps in your knowledge, and skills that you may need to develop in order to achieve your goals.

Having a mentor that has already attained the position you are looking to fill, or has undertaken a similar career trajectory in the past, can also give you a competitive advantage over other candidates that are managing their career moves alone and without the help of an experienced guide.

 Educate Yourself

According to the Graduate Management Admission Council’s 2020 Corporate Recruiter Survey,  the median mean salary of MBA graduates is 75% more than that of employees with a bachelor’s degree alone, standing at $115,000.

Studying an online MBA is one of the fastest ways to climb the career ladder and secure a higher-paying position, along with gaining entry into a leadership or management role. An MBA is recognized around the globe for equipping graduates with a depth of knowledge and understanding, as well as the skills needed to successfully navigate the business world. It can open the door to opportunities to progress your career by increasing your marketability at home as well as internationally.

In addition to online degrees to help your career growth, taking advantage of training courses and certifications offered by your employer can help to build your skillset and your resume. There are also many online learning platforms that can help you hone your skills in a particular area which you can study inexpensively and at your leisure.

Ask For More Responsibility

Showing your boss that you are able to handle more responsibility is a great way to demonstrate you are suitable for a senior position. This could involve asking if there are any projects you can take over or offering to take on work from your co-workers if they do not have the capacity.

By taking the initiative to ask for greater responsibility and undertaking each project successfully, you are able to showcase your diverse skill set and competencies, some of which may not be apparent in your current role such as delegation, problem solving and strategic planning.

Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone may seem daunting at first, but is one of the best ways to help you grow professionally. By actively seeking more responsibility, you will put yourself in good stead when it comes to performance reviews and pay rises. It will also make you stand out and be more visible in your organization, more likely to be called upon by your superiors and first in mind for promotion.

Become An Expert

By staying on top of developments in your area, you can begin to establish yourself as an
expert and the go-to person in your organization for certain matters. Whether it’s taking online courses, reading articles, or attending lectures that deepen your knowledge and understanding in your particular field, you can not only inform yourself but disseminate your knowledge and insights to your boss and co-workers through email updates, offering to give presentations or by starting a blog where you share your insights, opinions and recommendations.

Being seen as an expert will help you stand out as a valuable asset to your organization and more likely to be assigned tasks that call upon your specialist knowledge, making you more engaged with your day-to-day duties as well as the ideal candidate for advancement.

Meet With Your Manager

Make it a point to speak to your manager about your career goals and opportunities to progress within your organization. They can work with you to develop a SMART plan, track your progress and help you to gain the skills you need to further your career.

Regular one-on-one meetings where you can share your aspirations and discuss ways to work towards your goals will not only help you get more involved in interesting projects but will also help you stay on track to advance your career.

By following the five steps in this article, you can greatly enhance your skillset, become more visible in your organization and ultimately position yourself for career advancement.