Are you looking for the best career advice on how to make a difference in your career? Here are 8 foolproof actions that will help you make the most out of your job. And LIFE :)
When it comes to your career, there is plenty of advice you can find online. Yet most people feel helpless and confused when they actually need the right professional advice for their career.
There are a lot of different paths you can take when it comes to finding a career, and that's great! But no matter what you choose, there are some basic things you should always keep in mind. In this article, we've gathered 8 pieces of career advice to help you make the most out of your job and get the most out of your career journey.
From stepping out of your comfort zone to building a solid network, these tips will help you kick start a new career, or navigate through a career change without feeling overwhelmed about what to do next.
8 Pieces Of Career Advice To Make the Most Out Of Your Job
1. Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone
The first and most important thing to keep in mind whether you've just started your career or thinking of switching to another career or role is that nothing great is ever accomplished in the comfort zone.
Robin S. Sharma said - “As you move outside of your comfort zone, what was once the unknown and frightening becomes your new normal.” Sometimes fear becomes powerful enough to keep us from achieving our goals and living our best lives. Stopping us from stepping out of our comfort zones.
But what's also true is that when we ignore fear, it grows. When we face it, it shrinks. By taking action, we fight our fears and move forward. You can do this by -
Being prepared to push your boundaries
Constantly developing your skills.
Never stop trying out new things.
These habits will set you apart from others and help you become a lifelong learner. When you're focused on your personal development, you'll see that you're able to achieve greater milestones in your career, which would be otherwise be a difficult to do if you stayed in your comfort zone.
2. Stop "Finding" Your Passion
Some people find the word “passion” energising. They get excited by the idea of doing something for a living that they’re passionate about.
For some, it causes panic and anxiety. Why?
This is was me long time ago. I panicked at the thought of not knowing my passion. I feared the consequences of never finding out where my passion lies. I self doubted myself when l thought I won’t be able to be passionate about the same thing forever.
For all of those who are experiencing this now, I’d like to tell you this today-
You don’t have to have a passion.
If you want to lead a fuller, happier life, focus on continuous learning and stop focusing on having “one” passion.
If you believe you’re passionate about something, remember that passion is not static. It might change and that’s OK.
By not focusing on "one passion", you're opening yourself up to so many opportunities - both in life and at work!
3. Always Be Curious
If you want to grow in your career, be curious.
Learning stops when you lose curiosity. And growth stops when you stop learning. Hence, one of the best pieces of advice one can give is to be interested to learn about things wherever you go.
Keep your curiosity alive.
Be interested to know about new things
And never hesitate to ask questions.
Related Article - Top 5 Tips to Launch your Career
4. Build A Solid Network
Whether you are a student, a professional trying to settle or someone well-settled in their lives, focusing on building and expanding your network is always rewarding.
Now, when I ask you to build a solid network, you need to understand that it’s not the same as simply exchanging business cards offline or sending connection requests online.
Rather, it’s about:
Investing sufficient time in meaningful conversations
Building relationships
Exchanging value
5. Say Yes To Opportunities That Challenge You
Everyone wants to advance in their career. But many people feel stuck in a career rut and are unable to get out of out it. After coaching hundreds of professionals in a similar situation, I realised that -
they were too scared to move into a role where they didn't have previous experience
they were not confident of their skills and abilities
they were unsure about scaling their potential.
However, advancement happens only when you accept opportunities that help you grow.
Don't let things go because you are afraid to fail.
Either you’ll surprise yourself with your capabilities, or you’ll learn how to do it next time!
6. Pause And Reflect On Your Life
Chasing one thing after another, never taking a break to appreciate how far you have come is not the way you should go about life or your career.
Take a pause every once in a while to ask a few questions like:
Are you moving in the right direction?
Are you happy with your current role?
Where do you want to be in the near future and what things you will need to do in order to get there?
It’s always good to reflect once in a while, analyse your decisions and your growth.
7. Focus On Your Strengths
Shifting from one role to another can be challenging. One helpful tip to tackle this is to focus on your strengths instead of thinking about what you lack. Find the skills you are confident about and start from there. That’s the best career advice you can get when it comes to shifting your career path.
Because here’s the thing - Almost every job teaches you something that can be applied at another job. So, even if you feel you have no expertise in the new role, the truth is you always have enough experience from your previous jobs.
Just a few things to check off as you switch to a new role:
Find the relevant skills
Use your experience from your previous job to your advantage
Be confident in your abilities
8. Let Go Of The Expectations Of Others
“I should be better at this.”
“My parents will be disappointed if I don’t get this job.”
“What will my colleagues think of me if I don't perform well at work?”
Does this sound familiar?
Social pressure can be deceiving at times and we all become prey without knowing it. If you want to lead a fuller life, you have to take ownership of your choices.
And the easiest way to do that is to treat yourself kindly. Accept yourself wholly - all your good traits and worst flaws. And when you do that, you'll see that there’s very little room for other’s expectations.