99 CAREER TIPS
Workers who are just starting out on their working lives or well advanced in their careers, who work in an office, outdoors or on the road, for a boss or for themselves, can all use some help to achieve more.
Eleven of Adelaide’s leading business self-starters, career consultants and human resource specialists share their tips on how to move forward in the workplace.
1. Never be afraid to offer ideas. “Ideas people” are rarer than you think.
2. Don’t bring just one idea to a meeting. Bring lots. Demonstrate initiative.
3. Before meeting new people, do some quick research on them. Find out their interests.
4. Think before you email. If in doubt, don’t send.
5. Always share the credit in a team effort. Praise makes colleagues.
6. Demonstrate your continual educational improvement, as further study shows commitment.
7. Join allied professional bodies to meet people and keep in touch with them.
8. Read the trade and daily newspapers to chart staff movements and new businesses.
9. Keep your CV up-todate.
10. Share your network, rather than protecting it from others.
11. Seek opportunities to promote yourself, your skills and experience.
12. Focus on developing your communication skills, which includes active listening.
13. Good networking is mutually beneficial. Be prepared to help others before you expect any benefit.
14. Focus your CV on your achievements rather than roles and responsibilities.
15. Your appearance reflects your personal brand, so update your business attire regularly.
16. Try not to let your annual leave build up. Have regular holidays and recharge your batteries.
17. Believe the difference you can make to an organisation or your own business.
18. Leave your career comfort zone before it becomes a prison.
19. Get clear with your career direction.
20. Identify career obstacles and set specific goals to overcome them.
21. Do your research and get a realistic job profile.
22. Before moving to a new job, identify any training gaps and address them.
23. Find out where the vacancies and job opportunities are and meet key people who have the power to give you a job.
24. Most people get stuck for words when asked what they are good at so take the time to identify where you excel.
25. Present yourself in the best possible way at an interview by being self-assured, professional, prepared and ready.
26. Don’t give up if you hit a tough patch.
27. Define your career style. Who are you? What are you good at? What’s your personality?
28. Visualise your ideal job.
29. You have, on average, 19 seconds to impress, so focus your resume on achievements, especially on Page 1.
30. Statistically, 65 per cent of people find a job through who they know.
31. Don’t rely on others to send out feelers on your behalf.
32. Knowledge is power. The more you know about the company, the better your outcome is likely to be, so do your research about it.
33. Check that you have mastered body language for interviews because first impressions rule.
34. In interviews, avoid broad generalisations to specific examples to convince your “buyer” that you are the one they must have.
35. Learn the art of salary negotiation. Then do it.
36. Fortune favours the brave.
37. Seek every opportunity to learn. Knowledge is the lightest thing to carry with you everywhere you go.
38. Find a mentor from within your organisation with whom you can meet regularly to talk through career and work issues and opportunities.
39. Attend formal courses, workplace learning and/or reading relevant publications.
40. Look to be part of new workplace initiatives.
41. Seek opportunities to lead workplace projects to learn and develop your leadership skills.
42. Obtain feedback on your work performance and strive to continually improve.
43. When you learn something new, start applying it as quickly as possible so you retain the knowledge.
44. Develop a career plan that provides a roadmap of your ideal career development during the coming five to 10 years.
45. Be prepared to take risks and make mistakes but don’t repeat them.
46. When you start something, such as a project, course or assignment, complete it.
47. Use your initiative and don’t wait for somebody else to tell you what your learning and development should be.
48. Have an external mentor (possibly someone you admire in your industry).
49. Build a network of people who can provide solid feedback and advice on skills and experiences.
50. Visualise what it feels like to achieve your goals.
51. Tap into a peer support group (such as The Executive Connection). It will instil you with a sense of camaraderie and, in a confidential environment, provide you with direct and unbiased feedback from other business executives.
52. Continue personal and professional growth by attending seminars involving business leaders you admire or whose ideals challenge you.
53. Maintain a worklife balance. Personal time will inevitably increase your efficiency and focus at work.
54. Foster the contacts you already have. It is important to develop a genuine relationship with those around you to ensure they have your best interests at heart.
55. Avoid burning bridges. The business community is often quite intimate, especially in Adelaide.
56. Take every opportunity to challenge yourself.
57. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. View clothes purchases as an investment in your future, ask for fashion advice and wear colours that complement your natural features.
58. If your workplace encourages casual attire, ascribe to dressing just a little better than most of the people around you.
59. Continually update your industry skills.
60. Try and identify things you enjoy doing and find a job that incorporates at least some of them.
61. Do one thing at a time and do it well rather than trying to do everything and achieving nothing.
62. Communicate your career plan with your existing employer. If people aren’t aware of your intentions, you could be overlooked.
63. Understand the business’ objectives and how they filter into your specific job role.
64. Stay true to yourself and protect your personal brand in all that you do.
65. Have fun! If you aren’t enjoying your work, what’s the point?
66. In a business community such as Adelaide a great deal can be gained from staying connected.
67. Social media is a great way to stay connected.
68. Do something you are passionate about rather than working for money because if you love your job the salary will follow.
69. A good question to ask yourself is “Can I do better?”
70. Your first job might not be your dream job but it will be a stepping stone to your career goals.
71. Have the five “Ds” – desire, determination, dedication, discipline and drive. But avoid the sixth “D”, distraction, at all costs.
72. Be a self-starter because if you are not going to do it, then who is?
73. Do more than is expected whether it is for your employer, clients, colleagues or employees.
74. If you do get knocked down, get up again.
75. Work experience provides a great insight to the career that you have chosen.
77. Leadership is a vital tool, whether you are the PM of the country, are held to account or in the general workplace.
78. Confidence is gained by understanding the product you are trying to sell or promote.
79. If you realise down the track your career choice wasn’t the right one, then make the change sooner rather than later, as there’s always a three-month probation period.
80. Most companies employ a human resources officer, which is a great assistance, especially through your early weeks of employment.
81. Any experience gained in any employment is invaluable, even if it’s an after-school job or not your intended long-term career.
82. People skills and social skills are the greatest tool to have. You gain and achieve these by mixing, working and socialising with people.
83. There’s no point in having two or three university degrees or be the PM if you can’t articulate your message.
84. Be a master at one trade and not a jack-of-all-trades, so look for opportunities that exist in your chosen industry such as trade, sales, technological, representative or management.
85. Your attitude to life, friends and work is what your peers will look for when looking for leaders.
86. Look outside your group for inspiration.
87. Always stay in touch with trends and technological changes that occur in your industry. If you keep looking you will eventually invent your own way.
88. Ask the most questions. Your boss or teacher has a head full of information that they love to share.
89. No question is dumb and you won’t know unless you ask.
90. Everyone has their ups and downs in their career but it is how you deal with the downs and control the ups that is the key to success.
91. Stay in touch with your passion. This may mean continuing practising the skills about which you are passionate rather than staying behind a desk.
92. Recruit the right people. Business owners are only as good as the people around you.
93. Have the courage to take the next step.
94. Don’t be put off by rejection. Keep pursuing your career goals.
95. Make sure your career choice is suited to your personality.
96. Be careful about your online presence. Employers may research you on the internet.
97. Take advantage of all new training opportunities offered by your employer to improve your skills.
98. Believe in your abilities and others will.
99. Take constructive criticism – this will help you to develop your career.
CONTRIBUTORS Compiled by Malcolm King, Republic Resumes; David Dercho, HLB Mann Judd; Monica Magann, Career Directions Australia; Catherine Cunningham, The Career Consultancy; Dr Lindsay Ryan, Corporate Education Advisers; Jerry Kleeman, The Executive Connection; Scott Hicks, Adam Internet; Tammy May, MyBudget; Michael Angelakis, Angelakis Bros; Andrew Elsegood, Hair Extensions International; Alicia Bird, Excel Recruitment.
