Many employees, especially those who work traditional corporate jobs, feel as if they are stuck in their roles. A report by the BLS on workplace turnover found that out of the 4.3 million Americans who quit their jobs, 31% opted to start their own business.
This is mainly due to people believing that there is more chance for growth if they work independently, or that entrepreneurship is far more exciting than working at a desk job. Contrary to this popular belief, however, there are still ways that employees can boost their careers while still operating in a traditional workplace. If you are aiming for better professional development, here are a few hacks you can use to try to get a leg up in your industry:
Manage distractions
Being able to work efficiently will give you more time to focus on other aspects of your career. When you get your tasks done, you can opt to read books that give industry-specific insights or you can attend conferences – with permission from your employers – to learn new things about your field of work. Working efficiently will also bring attention to you as an employee who gets the job done, encouraging your higher-ups to take notice of you.
One simple way to do this is by managing distractions. Staying focused on the task at hand will help you get it done faster without sacrificing the quality of your work.
Our article on ‘20 Body Tricks That’ll Improve Your Life’ lists some creative solutions to small distractions. For example, if your sinusitis is causing discomfort and is distracting you from your tasks, push your tongue to the roof of your mouth while also pressing on the space between your eyebrows.
Switching your computer monitor to blue light can also help keep you awake without the need to drink coffee.
Knowing how to combat these distractions will help you get more done, and give you more time to work on your career.
Keep organized
If you feel like you are drowning in work and are ready to quit, take a step back as this could be a sign that you are not organized enough, rather than the job giving you too much work. Keeping organized can be another way to boost workplace efficiency and highlight you as a great employee. The New York Times outlined how where you work, and how organized that space is, is very important.
A messy desk shows a lack of organization and time management. The site recommends spending just 10 minutes at the end of the day readying your desk for the next day so you always have a clean start. This will put you in a much situation each day allowing you to tackle your work in a more efficient manner. If time management is an issue there are many digital planners available such as Google Calendar and Notion that you can add to your phone.
Being able to stay organized will also show your employers that you are a hard worker who can easily deal with deadlines and projects. This simple hack can bring about a promotion that will certainly boost your career and keep work exciting for you.
Stay updated on employment trends
Employment trends are always changing, so having a keen understanding of what employers are looking for from their workers will help you know where you can improve. Current workforce trends listed on LHH include future-proofing your career by upskilling. Online learning resources are widely available now, so it’s easy to refresh what you know and then expand on that knowledge. Moreover, soft skills like resilience, agility, and a willingness to learn are also in demand.
You can read reports by industry leaders to know the current skills needed from someone working in your field. You can also communicate with your managers or HR departments to gain a better understanding of what they are looking for in new employees. A simple trick like keeping up with employment trends will future-proof your position within your company, and give way to better professional development.
Work on your professional network
Having a professional network will allow you to connect with people within your industry. These contacts can serve as a door to give you new insights and open your eyes to new opportunities. They may even recommend things you can do to keep your career feeling fresh — like taking on the role of mentor for junior employees, or trying your hand in new projects.
A write-up by Forbes on the importance of networking explains how setting goals is important when expanding your contact list. This will allow you to connect with people who can serve different roles in your professional development.
You can also seek the help of colleagues and acquaintances, as they may know professionals working within the same field.
Reaching out to people might feel difficult at first, but networking is a simple endeavor that can open up more opportunities to boost your career.
