5 Tips to Jumpstart Your Career Early On
Let’s face it! Getting off on the right foot early in your career translates to getting the desired position, level, and salary sooner than later. When you are young, it is easy to imagine that you have lots of time to get ahead. This can lead to failure to focus on your career development. Though you might have several work years ahead of you, how you utilize your time early in your career has the potential to determine how quickly you advance and stand out among your peers.
Injecting a dose of ambition and determination early on will make it possible to move ahead faster than people with more years of experience who lack the desire to go above and beyond. Here are steps you can take to ensure that you will have a strong start early on and beyond.
If you have already been in your career for a while read on anyway, and check to see which of these things you can improve on to boost your career.
- Keep learning
To get a head start in your career while in your twenties, it is imperative to develop a yearning for knowledge. For instance, you can find online classes, take a night class, or attend seminars to help you develop new skills and knowledge that will set you apart from your peers. If you have a university degree, don’t get content with it. I mean continue learning to make it easier to land your first job.
2. Build your online presence and brand
In this age of the internet and social media, you can showcase your skills, professional opinions, and accomplishments to potential employers. With these tools, you can create an \”expert\” persona that employers can turn to verify your skills and expertise. If you do this early on, you will be in a position to create an online following that will boost your career prospects, increase your reach, and expand your network
To achieve this, you can create a simple website showcasing your skills and expertise or be active on social media platforms such as LinkedIn. This way, you will be creating an online presence and building a strong brand early in your twenties.
3. Focus on effective communication
If you learn how to effectively communicate with employers, you will be miles ahead of your peers who are looking to enter the same workforce as you. Therefore, it is important that you learn how to make effective job applications that will catch the eye of potential employers. This includes creating a professional CV and targeted cover letters that will set you aside from your competitors. To achieve this, ensure that your CV and cover letter address the professional requirements of every job you apply for. Also work on interpersonal communications, including how you ask for what you need, how you feedback to colleagues, how you express discontent, how you write emails, and how you contribute in meetings. Virtual communication is also important so build your on-screen communication skills and presence carefully.
If you learn how to communicate effectively with employers and colleagues early on in your career, it will be easier to stand out from your peers. If you don’t trust your communication skills, consider taking a communication course.
4. Build your network
Building a strong professional network is one must-do ss you advance in your career. The sooner you begin building a network, the sooner you will be able to create a web of contacts that you can reach out to. By so doing, it will be easier to learn about new job openings and this increases your chances of landing a job. To build a network, use social media sites like LinkedIn, and attend and be active in community and industry events.
5. Find a mentor
According to several studies, having a mentor increases your chances of getting a job especially if you are a youth. For instance, research conducted by Mentoring.org shows that young adults with a mentor are 130% more likely to land a job and hold leadership positions.
A mentor will help you navigate nuances of the workplace and solve problems when need be. They can also guide you on how to network and increase your productivity in the workplace.
References
- The importance of higher education in the 21st Century. Vista College. (2021, March 1). Retrieved September 25, 2021, from https://www.vistacollege.edu/blog/resources/higher-education-in-the-21st-century/.
- Doyle, A. (n.d.). Social media skills for resumes, cover letters, and interviews. The Balance Careers. Retrieved September 25, 2021, from https://www.thebalancecareers.com/social-media-skills-2063726.
- Heathfield, S. M. (n.d.). How to make a potential employer fall in love with you. The Balance Careers. Retrieved September 25, 2021, from https://www.thebalancecareers.com/impress-potential-employer-1916707.