Climbing The Career Ladder: 3 Strategies For Improving Your Prospects

You only have to pick up a newspaper or scan headlines online to see that getting a job isn’t always plain sailing. If you have career ambitions, there’s every chance that other candidates are gunning for the same roles as you are.

So, if you’re eager to climb the career ladder, here are some strategies to consider for improving your prospects. 

1. Enhance your skills

In some cases, you might read a job description and tick every box on the selection criteria, but it’s always beneficial to mention additional skills. This is particularly important because there could be several candidates going for the same role who have the same qualifications and experience. Learning is a continual process, and diversifying or expanding your skill set can stand you in good stead when it comes to making your application stand out. Research roles that pique your interest and look at the sections that contain information on the desirable skills. If you have the essentials sorted and you can offer more, this can help you beat the competition. 

2. Analyse talent shortages

Some skills are much more sought after than others, and if you can provide employers with the skills that are in short supply, you’ll improve your chances of getting a job and increase your income. Look for up and coming industries as well as roles that are in demand and analyse talent shortages. By gaining more experience, developing yourself by taking reputable online courses (see Kettering Online as an example), you can make yourself an extremely attractive proposition to employers and leading organisations or businesses. The world is evolving and advances in technology and changing consumer preferences are contributing to the creation of exciting new opportunities. 

3. Network

Networking is a means of building relationships and creating a contact list. Meeting new people and forming virtual ties can open all kinds of doors. Through networking, you may hear of potential employment opportunities, meet employers who might be keen to hire you or form a contact list that will benefit you if you choose to pursue self-employment or go freelance. Joining professional networks and attending events can also enable you to keep an ear to the ground for developments or news that might impact your job prospects. If you hear about a company expanding, for example, there may be a chance to scope out vacancies before they are advertised. If you’re new to networking, the prospect of turning up at an event can be daunting, but everyone has to start somewhere. Be confident in your abilities, dress smartly and think about what you want to say in advance. Relax, maintain eye contact and don’t panic if there’s a lull in conversation or you find yourself alone for a moment. You don’t have to be engaged in intense conversation at every moment. 

Many people start a job search with intentions to progress and climb the ladder. If you’re keen to improve your prospects, take these tips on board. Invest in yourself through learning and studying, look for opportunities to progress within growing sectors and take advantage of networking events and virtual platforms that enable you to expand your contact list.