Much
is coming to light about the Millennial generation and how they both
perceive and add to the current workforce. One of the routine complaints
against them, however, is that they often enter that workforce with
unrealistic expectations of how they will move through it. They have a
heightened view of their own capabilities and
tend to foresee themselves moving through the ranks much quicker than
would be considered normal, or even attainable.
Perhaps
you are one of those Millennials, finding yourself in a stagnant
position two years later and wondering what went wrong. Or maybe you are
somebody who has been in the workforce for over a decade, but you still
find yourself a long way from where you want to be. The truth
is, moving up the ladder in any career takes a focused determination to
do so. It takes planning, and the willingness to advance towards your
goal.
Find an Ally: One
of the first things you should do is find someone who might be willing
to serve in a mentorship role to you; preferably
someone who is at a point in their career that you envision yourself
eventually being. This is the person you want to express your career
aspirations to, and the one you want to go to for advice on how to
realize those aspirations. (For more advice on finding a mentor, click HERE)
Plot Your Course: A
lot of people make the mistake of declaring where they want to be in 5
or 10 years, without then thinking about the steps in between. If you
hope to be successful, you need to be willing to embrace
the smaller moves you will have to make in order to achieve your
ultimate desired position. No one advances from file clerk to V.P. of
purchasing overnight. Sometimes the most powerful moves you can make are
strategic in nature, not necessarily giant leaps and bounds.
Relocating, taking on a new job with no salary upgrade, or absorbing a
task that no one else wants to do; these are all moves that may be
lacking in glamour, but under the right circumstances, can sometimes
provide experience and
connections that prove far more valuable than simple title changes. So
think through the steps that lead to your dream career, and then be
willing to work towards each of them.
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