5 Awesome Ways to Grow Your Career in 2017

By Lilian Wamaitha

We ushered in a new year, which means that you have made resolutions you are determined to fulfill come December. In the current corporate world, where companies demand most of your times, many of us tend to focus on developing their employer and pay very little attention to developing themselves.

The business environment is a dynamic entity and if you are not careful, you tend to become irrelevant in the coming years. Why? Because you have not taken time to develop your careers through acquisition of new skills.

Read Also: Steps In Creating a Winning Career Growth Plan In 2017

So if you are ambitious let’s look at ways you can develop your careers this year and make 2017 a great success.

Incredible ways you can achieve career growth

So you have hit a dead end. You are no longer motivated at your job. It been years and you are still in the same position doing the same roles? How do you turn this around?

Here are awesome ways to grow your career this year that will get you out of the rut.

1. Move to another company

This is the most obvious way you can transform your career. Don’t feel like your current company is giving you enough in terms of careers growth? Why then don’t you move?

I know what you are thinking? How do I quit my job in these uncertain times, where unemployment levels are alarming?

If you are ambitious enough, you should be able to take the leap of faith. Read more about this in 3 Tell Tale Signs of Whether Your Job Offers Career Growth 

2. Be upfront with your career goals

The worst mistake you can ever do is to remain quiet about your goals hoping that they will work out one day.

If you know how far you want to go in terms of growing your career, be open about it. Let management know that you aspire to lead a team one day and ask them the directions you can take to achieve that.

Silent is the mother of all failures. People can’t read your mind, you know.

3. Venture into more projects

You have those specific roles you play in your company that define who you are. If you are looking to grow your career, you need to move past your comfort zone.

Be in a position to take up new projects outside your designation.

The goal is to focus on projects you are likely to reap maximum benefits from in terms of the knowledge you acquire.

4. To Grow Your Career Assume a leadership role

You may not be the leader over time, but in any company there are so many opportunities that allow you to be a leader.

If you are looking to grow your career in the right direction, then assuming a leadership position is the best way to go about it.

Demonstration that you can do certain roles will give you an edge if the company needs a leader at some point.

5. Network both internally and externally

If you are not a people person, then you better start re-evaluation your choices in life.

If you want to grow your career significantly, find people who can give you that push to get to where you want.

This means creating good networks both inside and outside the office.

We all want to feel that we are making progress in our careers. Get to grow your career by putting into practice these five tips.

Still not sure what direction to take in your career? Talk to our career coach today.

Recommended Article: Find Out 4 Obstacles To Career Growth

Lilian is a Communications Officer at Career Point Kenya. Contact her via lilian@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke