Before I became a self-employed businessman, I worked as an apprentice for many years. Throughout that time, I learned how to succeed in business. For example, I learned how to bargain what I was worth, how to be confident as a woman in a male-dominated industry, and many other valuable skills.
These career success factors are helpful for someone just starting out in their career, switching careers, searching for a new job, or wanting to improve at work. They will help you earn more and get your preferred job because you are worth it.
Top 5 tips to achieve career success (Key career success factors)
Check out these top career success factors to help advance your career and increase your income!
1. Always ask for more
When I received my first paycheck after graduation, I received a salary of $54,000 pre-tax (after taxes, it was about $40,000). I was thrilled when I opened that letter. I was as rich as I had ever been, and there was barely any point in asking for more income or negotiating a sign-on bonus. I did not consider even requesting a sign-on bonus until the last day. I was happy to have a job with a good salary.
Over time, as I worked, I got to know my coworkers and became friendly with them. One day at lunch, we discussed how much we earned (despite the fact that this was against company policy, we did it anyway because we were cool like that).
As the meeting progressed, I realized that another employee and I were the lowest paid yet hired into the same positions. We also shared a similar educational background.
Many of them made thousands more dollars than I did, and some of them even got sign-on bonuses. Why was that the case? Unlike me, they didn’t accept the first offer they got. Instead, they requested more.
Not only did they ask for more, but receiving it also put them in a position to earn more money in terms of raises and bonuses, which were a percentage of the base pay, over their career as a crew member of that company.
Needless to say, I was angry at myself, but this is a common occurrence among income workers. The experience taught me that I would not repeat the error again.
Always ask for a higher salary – Don’t be shy about asking. Asking for more money is a critical step in professional success. The worst thing that can happen is you get a no, but at least you will know that you tried. Before starting your job search, research the average salary in your field, city, and company. Also, compare your skillset and education level to available data as well.
This will allow you to set your rate. Remember that for every average income you find, there are others who are paid at the higher end of that income bracket – and you could earn your share of such earnings yourself.
2. Benefits are up for negotiation too
In addition to negotiating a raise, you can try to get additional benefits as well. It’s especially important to not accept the first salary offered if there isn’t much room for negotiation. I made sure to never settle with the lower rate that was offered to me after my first job experience.
Not only did I negotiate my salary, but I would also negotiate my benefits as well. At the end of the day, what could they possibly say to me? They might say no, and I would be able to continue negotiating.
And so in future projects, I’ve arranged everything from vacation days, to work from home days, to summer Fridays, to the type of computer I used, to my work schedule, to future bonuses based on my performance. The best part? I actually got many of these items after negotiating. If you don’t ask, you won’t get it!
Be sure to consult the scientific literature (just as you would before negotiating salaries) to see what other individuals in your field are receiving, what this company is offering, and even with what competitors are offering. This can give you a significantly better negotiation position.
Also, be aware of current corporate policies when making negotiations. For example, if your company has a stringent policy concerning an employee benefit, you shouldn’t disregard that policy when making your contract. It is important to negotiate your salary and benefits when seeking a job.
3. Exceed expectations and make yourself invaluable
Show your employer why you were hired. You should also show why you deserve accolades, pay raises, and promotions by surpassing expectations. You should be a valuable resource for your organization.
For every job I ever worked, this was my goal. I entered work every day, put forth my best effort, took initiative, and made sure that I learned what was necessary for me to take on my position. I provided assistance by answering questions, requesting and providing feedback, sharing my ideas and suggestions, and often exceeding expectations. Even when I was familiar with the tasks at hand, I would still complete them to the best of my abilities.
Even if you are not employed at your dream job, it is still important to do your best work and be your best self. Why? You’ll be positioning yourself for your ideal job when an opportunity presents itself. You’ve been trained and habituated to this work, so you don’t need reminding to do good work.
In addition, you will be setting yourself for advancement wherever you are now. One of the most significant career success factors is to exceed expectations!
Ask for feedback from your supervisor often. It may be at a monthly formal or informal check-in, but make sure you understand whether your manager is satisfied with your performance and are receiving any feedback you need.
When I was hired full time, I scheduled a 15-minute check-in with my employer each month to monitor my progress. I asked him if there were any areas I could improve in or if I needed additional assignments or projects.
This made my boss realize how important I was to his job and kept him aware of my worth when it came time for pay raises, promotions, and bonuses. He also advocated for me through the company because of my reliable ability to perform. If you don’t have a good boss, we share important tips here.
4. Never stop learning
Just because you are great at your job does not mean that you have reached your peak potential. And merely because a skill set does not directly apply to what you do now does not mean that it is not valuable.
My experiences while working full-time taught me how to be my own boss. I learned how to work as part of a team, how to organize systems and procedures, and other aspects of project management. They all work differently now in my current occupation. Had I continued in my line of work, it would have applied to subsequent projects as well.
Find courses, certificates, conventions, etc., that you can use to hone your skill set. This will help you become even better at what you do now and at any job you assume in the future. Expand your skills and outrank the competition at work!
5. Set professional goals to accomplish career success
Setting professional objectives is one of the most essential steps toward success. Like anything else, setting goals helps you strive for greater things. For instance, if you want to be a branch manager, then you should have a goal of being promoted to a leadership positions at your bank by a certain date.
Use the “SMART” goal technique to accomplish this. SMART means specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based. So, your goal is to become a branch manager, and your deadline is two years from now.
Break your goal down into more manageable goals. For example, instead of aiming for being a manager, you could instead set your sights on being a business analyst. Take leadership training courses as a way to learn to be an effective manager. (Read our article on leading women’s programs for details.)
In this way, you can learn how to perform the work before you apply. Setting professional goals will also inspire you to find a job you love and stop you from getting stuck. Having career goals is a vital aspect to consider when selecting a career.
Make career success easier with these tips
Use these career success factors to boost your productivity and make more money. Setting up objectives, honing your skillset, and knowing how to negotiate your salary can all lead to greater earnings in the long run. It is important to know your value.
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