Did you know that Australia hit an all-time high unemployment rate of 6.9% in 2020, with more than 250000 people losing their jobs amid the pandemic? Several companies shut down due to the economic downtime, while some resorted to laying off employees for cost-cutting. Bottom line: As a salaried person, your job is never ‘too’ secure. Whatever your designation be, you can lose a job. While you have nothing to do when companies shut down, you can certainly avoid being sacked by being an indispensable employee.
And, it isn’t just about saving your job. The world out there is a competitive place, making it all the more impossible to secure your job. Every day, thousands of people graduate (with better grades, at times) and put their resumes up to get hired. If you are stagnant in your professional life, your employer won't spare a second glance before moving on to someone better. You need to be that exceptional professional who is the organisation’s apple of the eye.
As impossible as that may sound, it is doable. Here are eight secret tricks that can help you excel at work and build a fulfilling career.
Top 8 Strategies to Secure Your Career and Excel at It
1: Take initiative
If you go to office, do what you are said to do, and leave on time, you aren’t doing enough. Today’s employers are welcome to suggestions and want employees who want to contribute to the goals of the company. They want someone willing to take risks.
So, you must be proactive if you want to save your job in this competitive career landscape and be more than just an option to your employer. Take the initiative to contribute to the company's goals and bring fresh ideas to the table. Pitch new projects, create new opportunities, and offer better solutions. Here are some steps you can take to show your zeal for the job.
2: Be your personal evaluator
Remember, you can be your most honest critic. So, do not wait for your team leader or manager to evaluate your performance. Take charge and assess your performance. If you are a creative writer, you can pay for an essay and write the same yourself. Then compare the two to see where you can improve.
Set quantifiable goals and a timeline to achieve them. Be your biggest competitor to be your best version. You can also ask your managers for regular feedbacks. This way, your employers will know how sincere you are about your job and the effort you are ready to put in. Click here for tips on self-evaluation.
3: Be ready to learn
Not knowing about an update in your professional field can be a huge turn-off. So, read more about your domain. Read relevant blogs, journals, and more to be aware. Ensure the management sees your inquisitiveness and realises that you are coachable and open to new things. Learn a new language, sign up for an extra skill course, or ask the company for relevant training sessions.
Moreover, the professional world is constantly evolving. What was correct yesterday may be outdated tomorrow. So, you cannot sit idle with the skills and knowledge you had a few years back. You must be willing to learn more to be at the top of your game. Check out these fantastic educational resources for professionals.
4: Anticipate the needs
Unless you deliver what your manager is looking for, you will not succeed in your job. Do not wait for orders to come. Like I said, take initiative and learn to anticipate what the company might need based on its goals. Ask yourself what you would have had done if you were the boss.
Remember that time is of the essence and equals to money in a business. So, do not make the irreparable mistake of missing deadlines. Use every opportunity to showcase your positive, go-getter attitude by delivering work on time, if not before. Also, learn how to strike the balance of offering quality and quantity simultaneously.
5: Communicate well
Remember that communication is a two-way process. Just like you expect your managers to inform you about something, they too look forward to hearing from you. Be responsible and communicate the status report for an assignment to your team leader and the manager even before they ask for it.
While on this topic, here are certain things you can do to ensure seamless communication:
- Send emails instead of notifying them verbally about the details of a task.
- If you are lagging, let them know beforehand about the unavoidable circumstances that led to a delay.
- If the manager is yet to inform you about something regarding the project, give a gentle (not too frequent) reminder.
6: Show instead of telling
Always remember this adage: actions speak louder than words. Make this principle the foundation of your professional life. Instead of talking highly about all the things you can do, deliver it to the management. Instead of complaining and cribbing, take charge of trying to make a change. Even if you aren't successful, your honest effort will count.
This is also the shortest route to earn the management’s trust. The sooner your manager knows what you are capable of, you will be delegated more tasks. Fulfil every commitment you make, and you will become the knight among the rooks and pawns.
7: Come up with solutions
Most employees transfer their problems onto the manager to solve when they face the minutest hurdle in their way. If you want to be a welcoming change in the team, do not play a game of tag by transferring your headaches. Instead, be independent enough, strive to be the solution provider, and straighten out issues by yourself.
Even if you cannot solve a problem, your employer would know that you have given it your all. If you don't have the authority to give the final verdict on a solution, you can at least offer solutions to help as much as you can. This will bring your leadership skills to the management's notice and might just make that promotion happen.
8: Be compassionate and positive
Even in the professional world, compassion and empathy can take you a long way. So, before coming to a conclusion and judging someone, try to acknowledge the effort everyone is putting in. If you have people working under you, try to understand where they are coming from.
Also, do not throw tantrums at the slightest discomfort and crib about the workload. If you constantly show that you are not happy to be in a company, the management will consider you a bad apple and be compelled to replace you. So, stay positive and face adversity head-on.
Endnote,
Just like the company needs you, you need it too. So, stay rooted and do not take your job for granted. While securing your job and giving shape to your ambitions, do not lose sight of yourself or your mental peace. Don't be too hard on yourself, and remind yourself that you are doing your best. Inculcate these traits in your life to excel in your career. With time, you will achieve your ultimate career goals and be indispensable.
Author bio: John Mark is a students' counsellor hailing from Brisbane, Australia. He is also associated with the brand MyAssignmenthelp.com, where He answers "write my essays” requests from Australian students. In his free time, John likes to read books and spend time in his garden.
Leave Comment