How to move your way up in today’s workforce

Whatever your position is right now, it’s always a good idea to think ahead. Think about the short-term milestones that will move you forward.

Consider these questions:

• Where do you picture yourself in two or five or ten years?
• What skills do you need to make that change?
• How will you learn them?
• Who do you know who has the type of role you want?
• What opportunities are available that can be a stepping stone to your goal?

Create a plan with long-range goals and smaller goals along the way. Write out a SMART goal (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) for the short-term actions you need to take. When you accomplish a goal, take a moment to celebrate! Then, move on to the next.

Humans are social creatures. We need each other to survive. But social interactions aren’t always easy. They’re layered with subtleties—power dynamics, emotions, conflicts. That’s where soft skills like active listening, empathy, and conflict resolution come into play. People who have these skills are highly valuable to employers.

For some people, soft skills come naturally. If they’re difficult for you, don’t throw in the towel. You can get better at them. In the workplace, a lot of it comes down to being supportive of your coworkers. Try these simple things to flex your social muscles:

• Greet people by name. People love hearing their own names.
• Acknowledge your co-workers’ contributions. Thank people when they help you.
• Practice active listening. Say, “This is what I heard you say. Do I have that right?”

You don’t have to be a social butterfly to build a strong professional network. It’s great if you are, but you don’t have to be.

Try these instead.

• Maintain good relationships with former employers and coworkers.
• Attend networking events and conferences within your field. Face-to-face interactions, even if they’re virtual, pack more punch than online communications.
• Use social media such as LinkedIn or online peer groups to meet other people in your field. Be mindful of your digital wellness. Engage as much as feels right for you.
• Be on the lookout for ways you can offer help to people in your network.
• Offer to be a mentor to someone with less experience.

No matter where you are in your career journey, a mentor can help. A mentor is someone who is further along their career path and is willing to spend time acting as a sounding board in your career journey. They can help you set goals, offer advice, and answer questions. A mentor can be one of your supervisors, but they don’t have to be.

All sorts of people could be your mentor—a former boss, someone you know in a whole different field, a college professor, or someone you know personally. The important thing is that you have a good rapport and feel supported by them.

Another way to move up in your career is to simply do your job well. Be someone your boss can count on. Work productively with your team members, and show off your soft skills.

Show your boss you can do more. Take the initiative to work on something outside of your regular duties. Help them see you as capable of more challenges.

Want to fast-track your career advancement? Keep learning! You don’t have to enroll in a degree program to continue building your skills.

Take advantage of applicable training or certificates your company offers. Sign up for free webinar discussions online to learn from others in your field. Look for online certificates to learn new skills. You can use them in your current role as well as your future ones.

It may seem counterintuitive, but people who work the longest hours aren’t always the ones chosen for promotion. Sure, there are companies that still have the “business at all costs” mentality. Smart companies, though, are realizing that employees who consistently perform at high levels keep a healthy work-life balance.

Bosses aren’t always impressed by burning the midnight oil. They may see it as poor time management, or worse, a sign that burnout is just around the corner.

Don’t fall into that trap. One, it may not have the effect you’re hoping. Two, you’ll sacrifice your own well-being and long-term ability to keep working.

It’s far better to say “no” to overwork and “yes” to having a life. Long-term, you’ll be a more reliable, dependable employee. Those are two traits that are always in high demand.

You are in the driver’s seat when it comes to your career path. Whether you take a straight path or one with more twists and turns is up to you. Make the most of the job you have, and plan now for your future goals.