How To Build a Great Career: Five Tips

If you have read our earlier article on the definition of what a ‘career’ is, you will have more clarity on why it is important to think of the work you do in terms of a ‘career’ so that the paths you take will lead you to where you want to go, and what you would like to achieve in life. Building a successful career is less about what profession you choose to be in, but how you choose to do it.

Here are some pointers on how you can go about building a successful career. 

1. Most Successful Careers Begin with a 4-year Degree

There are no two ways around it, especially for the younger generations of professionals born in the 1990s: unless you were born into wealth and are expected to take over your family’s business (and even then), you will need some sort of specialized tertiary education to be truly good at what you do.

There is plenty of evidence that for most people, those who complete four years of college or university tend to be better off financially than those who do not. 

Most employers will expect to see some professional qualification on your resume unless you apply for employment in food service, sanitation, factory production, or other manual work. These types of jobs are certainly essential services that can bring satisfaction to the right candidates.

However, if you want to think of your work-life progression as building a career, then you will need to start with a basic college or university degree in your chosen field.

However, the world has been changing, and skills matter the most. A lack of a degree can not stop you if you are determined to keep adding the skills in a focused way.

2. Develop a plan

As mentioned in our previous article, it is important to do some soul-searching and research to determine your career trajectory.

In other words, you need a plan! A good career plan can also help you identify and remove distractions and focus on your priorities. It gives you a timeline to which you can hold yourself accountable.

When developing a career plan, some of the questions you can ask yourself include how much money you need to make, who you like working with, where you see yourself five, ten, or fifteen years from now, and what you would like to accomplish.

The more detail you can answer these questions with, the clearer your career plan will be. If you need help creating a career plan, a good recruiter can be of great help to talk to.

3. Learning is Ongoing Throughout your Career

Cultivate a thirst for lifelong learning and constantly strive to upgrade your skills in your chosen profession because it can certainly increase your chances of success in your career.

When you have a learning mindset, you will see the changes around you as opportunities for growth and advancement and will be the type of employee who will rise quickly in the ranks.

You will have the knowledge, ability, and skills to meet any challenges throughout your career. While upskilling is required to carry out not just today’s job but that of tomorrow, continuous improvement of soft skills is paramount for continuous career growth and avoiding the effects of the Peter Principle.

Also, in many industries, ongoing learning has become essential to compete in an increasingly globalized workplace that involves new technologies and a fast-evolving workplace where automation, artificial intelligence, and remote work have become the norm. If this applies to your chosen career path, then it is imperative that you make a commitment to lifelong learning to stay ahead of the curve.

4. Networking is One of the Most Important Keys to Career Success

In today’s workplace, it is rare to be able to “make it on your own.” You need a strong network of people around you, especially when you are just setting out.

During the course of building a successful career, one of the best favors you can do for yourself is to establish a network of professional contacts. Attend all the career networking events you can spare time for in order to explore and take advantage of the many opportunities that can arise when you get out there to network among your professional peers actively. 

Aside from opening the doors for new acquaintances and even real friendships to come into your life, you can also gain by obtaining valuable insights and advice that can increase your chances of fast-tracking your career.

5. Take the Initiative

Employers take notice when individuals can bring fresh ideas to the table in terms of new solutions, projects, or opportunities for the company. You may already be an effective employee and a great team member, but you can also develop the habit of constantly thinking of ways to problem-solve and contribute to your workplace.

Ask plenty of questions, gain the trust of your peers and managers, go above and beyond your assigned tasks, and always be on the lookout for chances to shine while still being a valuable team member.

The motive behind these actions may seem self-promotional, but in today’s highly competitive workplace, taking these initiatives can often make the difference between forging a great trajectory for yourself or getting left behind when it comes to promotions and rising through the ranks in your chosen career.