You know the old advice to learn something new every day? That’s not just good advice to keep your mind sharp; it’s a great way to help boost your career as well.  The more you learn, the more skills and abilities you’ll develop, and that’s just what managers are looking for when it comes time to determine who has earned a promotion. 

If you’d like to continue your career growth, or if you’re just starting out and want to make a great impact and impression on your new boss, the best thing to do is keep learning! 

Talk to your manager about your goals.

• If you’re interested in taking on new responsibilities or learning new skills, maybe even cross-training for another position in your current company, ask your manager what specific skills are required in order to do so. This opens a conversation about what you are looking to do within your organization and contributes to your plan of what steps are required to take on this new role or get that promotion that you’ve desired for so long.

Show initiative.

• Some workplaces offer training as part of their regular annual requirements, but it might be the repeated viewing of training films about office safety, the importance of diversity, how to respond to a dangerous situation, etc. These are important reminders, to be sure, but it doesn’t do much to provide skills that are pertinent to your job or career goals. If you know what skills are required in order to move up or get a new role, take it upon yourself to do so. Your superiors should always want what is best for you, but no one is able to help you more than you can help yourself!

Ask questions.

• Being someone who’s naturally curious, or who’s eager to learn and isn’t afraid to ask “why” allows you to understand everything to the best of your ability. Asking questions shows you are interested and genuinely trying to have the best understanding of a topic as possible. While you may even feel like a bit of a pest at the beginning, don’t worry about asking so many questions, and remember that the better you understand a topic or process now, the better you will be when working with it down the line. So while you may spend a few extra minutes learning the ins and outs of a certain process, product, service, etc. this will make your life easier down the line as you will not be reliant on others to get answers surrounding this topic.

Be flexible.

• The more you know, the more you can do. You might start out in a job, or in your career, with a particular set of skills and knowledge that are just fine for the position at that moment. But if you learn more, if you add to your skill base, you could be opening up all kinds of doors to new opportunities, new positions, and new career possibilities. You might find something you love to do even more, making your career and your future even richer and more meaningful. The world is constantly evolving and that’s true for our jobs as well. Those who are best equipped to continue advancing their career are known to be flexible and adaptable so they can adjust to their circumstances and rise to any occasion, even if it is a bit outside their comfort zone. Remaining flexible in what you do and being okay with feeling a bit out of your comfort zone is key to improving, after all, you only developed that comfort zone in the first place through repetition of certain tasks. It gives you the upper hand and, potentially, a lot of power! 

Ongoing education and training is a gift you give yourself and your career. The more you’re open to it and accept the opportunities presented to you, the richer your career will be and the more you’ll benefit in the long run! Whether you’re new to your career or well-established in your company, learning new skills is an investment in your future. 

 If your current company doesn’t support your efforts to expand your knowledge base, maybe it’s time to look for something else. Why not review the jobs currently available through FurstStaffing as the first step toward your next opportunity? Our experts are happy to discuss any open jobs with you and are eager to discuss what skills are essential to have when applying to certain positions. When you’re ready to make a change, call FurstStaffing to see what paths are open to you!