Some people seem to shine at work without even trying. Others need to put a little more effort into getting noticed. Should you fall into the latter category, you probably know all too well what it feels like to be unappreciated.
It isn’t always the hardest worker that gets the promotion and it certainly isn’t always the most talented. These attributes alone don’t guarantee career advancement. There’s also the small matter of actually getting them noticed. Should you find yourself struggling in this department, here are six tips that should help.
Dress Better
Not every job requires you to wear a suit but many people take casual to mean unshaven. Regardless of where you work, appearances matter when it comes to getting noticed. How you look affects how people see you and in turn, it affects your chances of promotion.
Never arrive at work looking like you’ve just rolled out of bed. You don’t need to follow the latest fashion trends but you do need to look like you take care of yourself.
Speak Up
Social skills are a problem for many people when it comes to career advancement. To put it simply, confidence gets promotions. If you walk around afraid of your own shadow and you keep your mouth firmly closed during staff meetings, it’s easy to become invisible. And for those that do notice you, the words “management material” are unlikely to come to mind.
You don’t need to be an extrovert. You don’t need to have a dominant personality. But you do need to learn to speak up. And if you’re worried about your body language, there are many helpful books on the subject.
Take on Higher Profile Projects
Hard work alone doesn’t lead to promotions. You can be a wizard when it comes to meagre tasks and still find your career at a standstill. You need to demonstrate your worth to your company. You do this by taking on high profile projects and killing them.
When such projects are on offer, your hand should be the first one that goes up. If you’re worried about failing, don’t be. It’s better to be a visible failure than an invisible drone.
Use Your Initiative
Sometimes asking for advice and assistance from those above you is the only logical move to make. There are however other times when you need to use your initiative.
Learn to tell these times apart and never ask for help when it comes to the latter. Show those above you that you know how to do your job. Be a problem solver.
Put Your Name on It
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that just because you do something, management knows about it. If you produce a report and that report has to go through three people before it reaches its destination, don’t expect the recipient to know you wrote it.
Put your name on anything and everything that you produce. Most companies have ample jackals more than happy to take credit for unlabelled work.
Become an Expert
What aspect of your career do you most excel at? You should choose one aspect of your job description and become an expert on it. Being a jack of all trades is useful but such people don’t always get noticed.
Aim to become the go to guy in your office when it comes to a particular subject. Expertise is attractive to management and this is particularly the case when that expertise is in short supply.
About the author: Peter Johnson is a well known career consultant who regularly updates his blogs on designer jobs opportunities and related information.