Career Advice For The Go-Getter

I have a go-getter personality in all aspects of my life, and work is no exception. Whether in a traditional career or your own business, there are many small habits that can lead to big results. I am always on the hunt for great career advice for the go-getter in me from other go-getters in my field, and I love continuing to build my tool kit. If you are a go-getter, or aspire to be, these are a few places to start!

Surround Yourself With The Right Mentors

I am of the belief that everyone should have a mentor. Even if you are very successful in your field, there is always an opportunity to learn from someone who has been there, or someone who has a different perspective. Find someone in your field or department that you could learn from and form a mentoring relationship. I have had a mentor in each position I have had, and still remain connected to each of them. Talk with them about their career successes and mistakes. How they overcame challenges and stood out. How they ended up in the role they are in now and how they got there.

If you don’t have a mentor or any prospects, reach out to your manager or a trusted colleague and ask if they can connect you to someone in your area of interest. Pay it forward also, and serve as someone else’s mentor when possible to continue growing your network.

Don’t Be Afraid To Aim High

Even if you don’t feel qualified for a position, or think you cannot take on a challenging project, do it anyways. Apply for the higher position. Offer to serve on a project that is new to you. If you only set your sights on skills and roles that you can perform right now, you are missing the opportunity to find your way to the right role and get even further ahead. Don’t always stay in your comfort zone or you will miss out on the growth. Trying for something bigger and being rejected is more opportunity to learn. And you never know where it might lead! If you are a go-getter, you need to start higher than you think to land where you want in your career.

Don’t Stay Content

You should always be looking to the role you want, or the next step ahead. While it’s good to be confident in your current success, staying content limits your growth to the next opportunity. If you feel stagnant in your role or your company, don’t be afraid to look elsewhere. One big difference between the worker today and the worker of previous generations is the tenure with one company. If you are a valuable asset in your current role, you would be an asset to another company that may have more to offer you.

Pay Attention To How You Spend Your Time

Be mindful for the next few weeks while you are at work or at home with where your time is going. This is something most of us can benefit from in our lives, but it can be especially helpful with work success. Look for opportunities to reduce time-wasters in your day of little value. Look for opportunities to add networking, skill building, self care, or anything that will add value to your life whether personally or professionally. The important thing is making sure your time is of value to you, regardless of what you are doing. If you find something that detracts from your success, find a way to reduce it in your day.

Focus On Your Communication

Especially with work, it is often not what is said but how it is said. Whether in an email (words really matter) or in your body language during a conversation (where words matter less) you need to be conscious of how people perceive you. How you come across in your tone, and how you carry yourself professionally will stick in people’s minds. If you are perceived negatively with how you are communicating your thoughts or actions, it can be detrimental to your overall reputation. Take a look at some of your recent emails to leaders or think back to a recent conversation you had. Think about how you could have approached things differently and start being conscious before you push send of how your message is being portrayed.

What other career tips do you recommend for someone with an ambitious nature in the workplace? I love gathering new ways to learn at work!

All the best,