Most Winning Career Growth Strategies That Guarantee Your Success

Sooner or later, each of us tries to hit a new career milestone or land a “dream job” where our expertise is appreciated, work environment is positive and productive, and leaving our comfort zones leads to higher incomes.

Sounds too good to be true, but is it really that unattainable? Mission is possible if you use the right strategies and tools. Choose one or combine a few for faster and better results.

1. Help yourself and be fully prepared

Let's start with traditional career development strategies and tactics which can bring substantial results depending on the amount of time and effort you are ready to put in it. Lay a solid foundation by doing the following:

* Create a career plan and set clear goals (if struggle, go to a career specialist)

* Raise self-awareness by self-assessment. Evaluate your key skills, qualities, interests and passions, then correlate them with your career plan and goals.

* Get all your paperwork ready (Resume/CV, cover letters, credentials, etc.) to be able to submit at the earliest occasion

* Continuously upskill yourself, taking every opportunity – from corporate workshops to online courses

* In case you look for a promotion, take extra responsibilities to ensure you know ins and outs of your targeted position

* Educate yourself by reading posts and articles about commonly asked interview questions, tips on making a good impression, most desired soft skills in your industry, and other relevant topics

* Use keywords and search engines that best suit your needs. If you have a particular company in mind, regularly check their website and LinkedIn page for job openings

* Attend career fairs to be aware of the latest job market trends

Make a list of companies you would like to join, including people you'd love to work with. Now, try to find out as much as possible about their business activities. Whether crafting your resume/cover letter, “cold-contacting” recruitment agencies / employers, or preparing for a job interview, put an emphasis on what you can give, rather than what you expect to receive. Unless asked, keep your goals to yourself; instead, clearly explain how your can help meet theirs.

2. Benefit from networking

One of the most effective ways to get the right job (or advance your career in any other direction) is being recommended by someone who personally, or in any other manner, already experienced the power of your excellent skillset and high proficiency. It can be your colleague, client, former schoolmate, affiliate, a new acquaintance from the recent event, or even a social media contact. Consider the following steps to succeed in your endeavours:

* Build, maintain and nourish your network of contacts, both real-life and virtual (quite time-consuming but extremely rewarding)

* Let people know what you are looking for (get your “elevator pitch” ready but don't be pushy about what you need; rather, focus on what you can give and how others can benefit from your contribution)

* Learn presenting your ideas in an engaging manner in order to reach “win-win” cooperation

* Join professional groups/organizations where you will be able to demonstrate your expertise.

You can be at the very beginning of your professional path, planning a career change, seeking a promotion, working on a new project, or starting your own business. In any case, remember that employers hire / businesses partner / investors give money more willingly to someone known or directly referenced to them by a trustworthy source. Obviously, you have to offer much more than a bunch of connections, yet being introduced to your potential employer or business partner by the right person can certainly help on the way.

3. Build your personal brand

Keeping in mind that each of us is a brand already (and the sooner we realise it, the better), let's briefly discuss which steps should be taken to enhance our career development via social media:

* Build a solid network of connections in your area (both geographical and the area of expertise)

* Remove irrelevant or embarrassing content from your accounts, including negative or offensive comment to other people's posts (some recruiters and employers might extend their curiosity to checking your Facebook or Instagram)

* Sustain your online relationships. Genuinely encourage and support, respond to posts, and make informative comments. Continuously ensure your high “visibility”

* Embrace the fact that you can add value, and start doing it. Establish your credibility by initiating meaningful discussions, posting original content, recording videos, joining or creating groups, organizing webinars, delivering presentation, and using any other means to show your expertise.

There are many nuances to consider depending on your industry and occupation, but those are the basics to start with. Most amazing, when you achieve a status of a valuable personal brand, you won't have to look for a job anymore. Instead, you will be regularly contacted by those interested in your services, ready to make mutually beneficial offers.

Who knows, maybe you'll end up becoming an influencer or building your own business? In any case, a well developed and sustained personal brand would allow securing your future in the job market, significantly contributing to your career growth. By the way, as a professional network, LinkedIn should obviously be a #1 platform to implement your social media strategy.

4. Boost your LinkedIn profile

Having a powerful, captivating LinkedIn profile is priceless nowadays. I know quite a few people who grew awesome networks, built successful brands and landed great jobs by using this amazing tool. Below are a few tips to consider:

* Create (or update) your profile by asking yourself the right questions, such as “Where am I on a professional scale?”, “What are my key skills and capacities?”, “What impression would I want to make on my contacts/recruiters/potential partners?”, etc.

* Focus on your Summary section - formulate professional mission and goals, highlight achievements (anything quantifiable), and provide links to articles/videos/websites/blogs that illustrate your input.

* Get endorsements and recommendations from other specialists.

* Continuously expand your network of connections.

Those looking for jobs can apply for their favourite vacancies without hesitation, and a variety of LinkedIn's features and search engines would certainly speed-up the process. Be prepared, recruiters might start contacting you even if you don't actively look for a job. Whatever your career goals are, list your skills, use the right keywords, and indicate that you are open for job offers. (Important! Unless you want to look desperate or let your boss know, specify it in your LinkedIn settings, not in the headline).

I strongly recommend you to put as much effort in your profile, as needed. A complete, well written LinkedIn profile with a professional, compelling photo will expand your career opportunities, increase online presence, and open new horizons.

I know for a fact that the sooner you'll start following these recommendations, the further you'll progress in your career growth effort. There's definitely something you haven't tried yet – go for it and let me know how it worked.

Thank you for reading!

Follow me to receive more updates on the subject. My next article will be on How to Increase Your Value in the Job Market and How to Become a Freelancer. Also, upcoming is a series of articles on Writing a superb, ATS-friendly resume to stand out among other applicants.