How can you leverage your professional relationships to advance your career?

2 Find your mentors

Another way to leverage your professional relationships is to find mentors who can guide and support you in your career development. Mentors are experienced and trusted professionals who can offer you advice, feedback, and encouragement. They can also help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, set your goals, and plan your actions. You can find mentors by asking your network, your employer, or your professional associations for recommendations. You can also approach someone you admire and respect and ask them if they are willing to mentor you.

3 Learn from your peers

A third way to leverage your professional relationships is to learn from your peers who work in the same or similar QA roles as you. Peers are your colleagues, co-workers, or fellow QA professionals who can share their insights, experiences, and best practices with you. They can also help you solve problems, troubleshoot issues, and collaborate on projects. You can learn from your peers by joining or forming study groups, peer review sessions, or code clubs. You can also ask them for feedback, suggestions, or tips on how to improve your QA skills.

4 Showcase your value

A fourth way to leverage your professional relationships is to showcase your value as a QA professional. This means demonstrating your skills, knowledge, and achievements to your network, your mentors, and your peers. You can do this by creating a portfolio, a blog, or a social media profile that showcases your QA projects, tools, and techniques. You can also do this by participating in discussions, forums, or webinars where you can share your opinions, ideas, and solutions. By showcasing your value, you can increase your credibility, visibility, and influence in the QA industry.

5 Seek new opportunities

A fifth way to leverage your professional relationships is to seek new opportunities that can advance your career. These opportunities can be in the form of new projects, roles, or organizations that can challenge you, expand your skills, and expose you to new environments. You can seek new opportunities by asking your network, your mentors, or your peers for referrals, recommendations, or introductions. You can also seek new opportunities by applying for jobs, internships, or scholarships that match your qualifications and interests.

6 Maintain your relationships

A sixth and final way to leverage your professional relationships is to maintain them over time. This means keeping in touch, following up, and expressing gratitude to your network, your mentors, and your peers. You can do this by sending regular updates, messages, or greetings that show your interest and appreciation. You can also do this by offering your help, support, or recognition to your contacts when they need it or deserve it. By maintaining your relationships, you can strengthen your bonds, build trust, and create lasting value for your career.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?