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According to the Longman Dictionary the word job is defined as the work that you do regularly to earn money, especially when you work for a company or public organization while career is the type of work that you do or hope to do for most of your life.
Basically a job is a means to an end and it’s a short term thing. For example, you take up a job during your school holiday to kill time or earn some pocket money. You may also provide tuition at the weekend to pay for your tertiary education.
Your career, even though it is also a means to an end, it occupies a very large portion of your life. Therefore, it’s very important that your career gives you meaning, growth, advancement, satisfaction, happiness and fulfillment and of course monetary rewards.
Here are a few tips to help you achieve success in your career
1. Long term planning
It’s not a one-off activity. As you go along you need to track your progress and make changes accordingly. For example your lifestyle changes from when you were a bachelor and now you are a father of three.
2. Happiness at work
As you spend a big chunk of your time at work it’s crucial to be happy at work. No matter how difficult or challenging, take every assignment with a smile. Don’t complain about your job and don’t think that the grass is always greener in another company.
3. Personal Development
Take the initiative to acquire more skills to make yourself more indispensable at work.
4. Be prepared mentally for the worst
The business world is unpredictable. Companies downsize or retrench when the economy is gloomy. Use this time to learn new skills and offer to take up voluntary work while hunting for another job. The other thing that you can do is to take on extra projects. So that you’re more valued at work and you’ll be the last one to be considered for retrenchment.
5. Take the opportunity
When you are doing the same work day in day out, you should grab the opportunities that come along to enrich your career. You don’t want to become deadwood in the same company.
6. Give to others
Be a coach and assist the junior staff to develop their career in the company. Offer services in the community. By doing this you’re networking in the market place and who knows when you need help it’s there for the asking. Always remember the more you give the more you’ll receive in return.
7. Develop people skills
As you climb up the corporate ladder learn to get things done through others ie delegate. Treat the staff fairly. Appreciate the work that they do. Create an environment to boost morale and productivity.
8. Stress and self management
Learn the skills to cope with stress which is inevitable at work. Being able to organize yourself well is a major factor inreducing your stress. Develop a habit of writing a daily to-do list. As the saying goes: Plan your work and work your plan. When you manage your time well you move from task to task smoothly without stress.
