1. Set valuable goals 🎯
Setting a goal is the first step to career growth. Knowing where you’re going makes the journey easier. And if your goal truly speaks to you, it will probably be more achievable and fulfilling. Surely, we all want a salary increase and a promotion.
But setting an inspiring goal will probably motivate you more than ever. Helping more people, making something that supports others, making a change - these are all goals that will give you a good reason to get up every morning and follow your career path.
2. Explore vertical moves 🕺
Learning is one of the most important things in life. A great way to acquire new skills is to explore lateral moves within your company. Start by picking up a small thing that is not completely familiar to you. Every tiny new responsibility can teach you valuable lessons and push you further up your career path.
If you’re not in a place where you can experiment with lateral moves, try to look for a mentor in a different department. Hang out with them or share an office, ask questions, tips and make conversation - you’d be surprised how many things you can learn casually.
At bunq we have a great tradition called “the office shuffle”. This means that every 8 weeks, all bunqers move to a new desk and office, and mix with new people. That way, we all get to know and learn from each other. Bam, growth without hassle or effort!
3. Ask for feedback and develop your soft skills 📝
More and more data indicates that some jobs will be replaced by technology, especially AI. However, experts agree that there’s something purely human that recruiters will actively look for: soft skills. Think of emotional intelligence, empathy and leadership.
An easy way to develop your soft skills is to constantly ask for feedback, no matter what the answer may be. If you’re looking to develop in this regard, it’s important to know where you stand. Nowadays, it seems like only 15% of millennials constantly ask for feedback and implement it. That’s mostly because some of these conversations can be hard to have, but once it becomes a habit, it definitely gets easier and adds a lot of value to your growth path.
4. Use all development tools 🚀
Learning, growing, evolving...it’s all hard work, but you don’t have to do it all by yourself. There are plenty of assets that can help you nowadays, from online in-depth courses, to mentors and classes, the possibilities are endless.
If your company supports your growth through extra activities or dedicated budgets, make use of all resources and opportunities available. At the end of the day, it’s your path and you’re entirely responsible for it, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take advantage of all help. You know what they say, work smart, not hard.
5. Surround yourself with people who push you to be the best you 🧑🤝🧑
Last but not least, who is around you is extremely important for your career growth. Surround yourself with people that want to see you succeed and that always push you to be the best version of yourself. Negativity, toxicity and judgement, whether at home or at the office, will always have a bad effect on your career and the choices you make every day.
Choose your tribe wisely, and their psychological support will always help you succeed and hack your way up on the career ladder really quick!
Here you go! 5 great hacks for your career growth
While deciding on your goals and destination early on is important, don’t forget that it’s a long journey and make the absolute best of it every day!
