6 Surefire Ways to Accelerate Your Business Career

Most people think it’s challenging to land a dream job. Naturally, it is true. But do you know what is much more complex, though? It is finding a stable job, progressing in your career, and transforming it into a worthwhile and satisfying endeavor. And yet, it is attainable.

It is relevant to note that the business job market is exceptionally tough, so you must strive continuously to stand out among others. For this, you must continue advancing in the right direction.

So, after securing a job in your field, your next step is to focus on ways to progress your career. While career advancement can take many different shapes in the business industry, the ultimate objective is to reach the pinnacle of your career and enjoy your work to the fullest. For some, it can mean climbing to a management position. For others, it can mean expanding their skill set and knowledge base so they can start their businesses or make more money by working fewer hours.

Nevertheless, let’s examine more closely the following six strategies that can help us accelerate our business career in the best possible way:

1. Level up your knowledge with the right degree

If you don’t embrace a continual learning approach in your field, your present knowledge and skill set might not be sufficient to reach your career advancement goals. So, if you wish to be successful and progress in your career, be prepared to continue your education no matter at which stage you are in your career.

There’s a high possibility that you already possess a bachelor’s degree andsome relevant work experience. If this is the case, enrolling in an advanced degree program could help you improve your skillset and possiblypave the way for higher-level positions.

For instance, pursuing an MBA in management might be ideal if you want to land a management-level position. The degree will allow you to focus on practical study with real-world applications while helping you acquire the skills you need for various management professions.

2. Set reasonable goals

A clear understanding of your short and long-term professional goals is essential for career advancement. For instance, if your long-term objective is to lead your company as a manager, your short-term goals could include all the actions you must perform, the knowledge you must acquire, and the credentials you must get to reach that stage.

Establishing realistic goals and objectives can be incredibly motivating since they can show us where we want to go. After all, without goals set in place, you would be just shooting arrows in the dark.

However, it is crucial to remember that your initial goals may change as you continue to work toward your career advancement objective. And that’s alright. It’s best to stay flexible and ready to change course if something doesn’t work out.

3. Leverage your network

Do you know that 80% of job openings get filled via personal and professional contacts, according toresearch released in 2019? Additionally, only 80% of positions are listed openly on job portals. These intriguing statistics motivate you to create a solid network and make sensible use of it.

Put this way; you have friends and acquaintances in your circle, right? So, why not utilize their business connections?Not only can a strong professional network help you accelerate career progression, but it can also increase your knowledge and help you gain insights into industry trends and news.

However, be mindful that rather than gathering new business cards and merely connecting on social media platforms, foster your relationships with already-built connections.

4. Seek mentorship

Let’s face it; there is always someone who has already accomplished whatever we have wished for in our career.And success in any endeavor involves making errors and overcoming countless obstacles. However, working with a mentor can lessen such difficulties and accelerate your career progression.

A mentor who can guide you as you advance in your profession is a priceless asset. In addition, you can improve your career strategy with a mentor’s assistance. For instance, you can get new promotions,uncover unlisted job openings, etc.

Your mentor might be a manager within your organization, a professor from your college, or someone who holds a position you would aspire to have one day.

5. Be more visible

Another crucial step to accelerate your career in business is to market yourself.

For instance, if you wish to catch the eyes of your employer, instead of shying away and working in the shadows, you must come out and request more responsibility. Taking on extra responsibility can help you become more visible. In addition, doing so will help you better understand your potential.

However, only take more responsibility when you’re confident you can tackle it. Most of the time, asking for more work responsibility is an easy approach to making your dreams a reality.

That said, try not to put in extra effort and presume that you’ll get noticed and granted the job you want. Instead, it’s better to drop some clues to your supervisor. The supervisor might or might not offer you what you want within your schedule, so don’t get your hopes up too high. They can decide what they believe is best for the business because they are in control.

6. Accept feedback with an open mind

Answer this. Do you believe you are fulfilling your manager’s expectations? Or are you delivering work in line with the mission and objectives of the company? You can better understand your strengths and shortcomings by finding the answers to all these questions. This way, you can grow in your career and make appropriate improvements. For this reason, getting feedback is a better idea.

However, be sure to define and clarify your objectives for feedback to your supervisor so they can tailor the feedback to your needs.Remember that many other people can provide you with honest feedback besides your employer. You can also ask your clients and coworkers for feedback.

However, resist the need to become defensive in response to feedback—instead, welcome constructive feedback with open arms.

Key takeaways

It’s no secret that the global employment market is getting more competitive.It’s even more true for business professionals. Due to this fierce competition in the industry, moving up the career ladder has become the need of the hour. However, career advancement can’t happen overnight. In other words, receiving credit for your effort and hard work can take some time.That said, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t any initiatives you can undertake to accelerate your professional advancement. All you need to do is stay positive and determined and incorporate the abovementioned tactics.