Career Success Advice

Have you landed your dream job? Or do you want to make sure that you are on the road to success in your current job?
Below are a few useful pointers on how to be succesful in your job and career.

Compose a career map
Maps. An integral part of civilization. In a bygone era our predecessors made use of maps to navigate the mysterious seas and to discover unknown territory. Because of maps most of the modern world as we know it exists today. Without maps we would probably still be inhabiting only one tiny part of the earth, oblivious to other countries and the rest of the population.Why are maps important? It gives us an idea of where we are going and assists us with finding our way with less hassle. A map displays routes. By knowing which route is the best you can plan accordingly and reach your destination with a sense of good planning. By mapping your career you have the advantage of knowing where you are going and which route is best for you.

Have a plan
One does not jump into a pool oblivious to the depth of the water. Take the same approach to your career and job. Know where you are going. Plan your career. Plan your moves. Don’t only have a plan – have a brilliant plan. Put your plan on paper. It’s great to have a plan in your mind, but by putting that plan on paper your plan is reinforced and you don’t run the risk of forgetting any small details.

Maximise your efforts
Work hard. Work smart. Do everything you possibly can to get the job done well. What you put in is what you get out. If you put in extra effort you will reap the rewards by not only gaining valuable experience but also being tagged as a hard worker. Hard workers achieve promotions. Hard workers gain reputations as valuable employees. Hard workers are recognised by their employers. Give maximum effort to every project that you undertake.

Remember the RT rule
Be Reliable. Be Trustworthy. The RT rule. You can give maximum effort and have the most brilliant career map but if you are not reliable and trustworthy then you’re not going to get very far in the upper echelons of the admin world. Reliability and Trustworthiness go hand in hand. Be reliable with information that you are entrusted with. Be trustworthy with tasks that you are given. As an admin assistant you will be given access to lots of information. Remember the RT rule at all times.

Watch your words
Becareful what you say at work. Becareful what you say to whom. Words have a strange way of taking on a life of their own and travelling through time and office space faster than a wildfire. Stay far, far away from gossip. Nothing hurts a good reputation more than a reputation as a gossip. It’s a not always easy, but it’s reality: becareful of what you say because there’s nothing worse than being labelled as a contributor to the office grapevine. Use your words with caution.

Use your initiative
Do you see something in your office that needs to be done? Then use your initiative and get the task done. Office plants looking a bit droopy? Haul in the plant hiring company and arrange replacements. Files looking like it comes out of a kindergarten craft class? Order new files and reorganise the filing cabinets. Your desk looking a bit icky and the cleaning staff not doing a good job of making it all better? Gather the cleaning cloths and do it yourself. Catch my drift? Use your initiative.

Garner Knowledge
Find out about learning opportunities within your organisation and how you can further your career. Many companies offer training programs and study opportunities – take advantage of those perks. Gather knowledge by taking note of other successful people around you in the workplace and applying all their good points to your everyday worklife.

Be versatile
In order to showcase how invaluable you are in the office you sometimes need to roleplay. This is what is referred to as “wearing many hats”. As an administrator, you have the ability to make yourself a priceless employee by fulfilling different roles. Be a versatile employee and chances are that your company will recognise you (and your abilities) as an excellent asset.

Do it well
If you’re asked to do a job, don’t just do the job. Do the job to the best of your ability with maximum effort and input. If you’re asked to arrange a meeting, ensure that the meeting room is sparkly clean, the projector is set-up and refreshments are arranged before anyone arrives. If you’re asked to book flights, don’t just e-mail the air ticket to your boss; print out the tickets, car hire and accommodation details, print out maps to the hotel and arrange GPS in the car.

Time will tell
Arrive a few minutes earlier than necessary in the office to prepare for the day ahead. Work through your lunch hour if you are working on an important project with major time constraints. Don’t complain about working a few minutes later than usual to complete an important task. Never, ever be late for work or for meetings. Always be on time. Take note of due dates of projects and assignments and complete these on time. Everytime.

Think ahead
Start planning for the year-end party in July. Venues and DJ’s get booked out months in advance. In January start ordering marketing gifts for that strategy conference in May. Think ahead. Start planning early. Thinking and planning ahead gives you a huge advantage because that means that you have time on your hands and you don’t need to do everything in a hurried rush.

Look the part
Dress well. Look good. You don’t have to wear the latest fashions but make sure that your clothing is neatly pressed each day and that your colours co-ordinate. Accesorise – wear that little neckpiece or pretty earrings that match your blouse. Wear comfortable, practical heels. Skip the loafers and the sneakers and the pole-dance-lessons stilettos. You want to be professional, so wear professional clothing. Take care with your hair and your make-up. Take the time to look at yourself in the mirror each day before you leave home and ask yourself, “Am I conveying a professional image? Do I look good? Do I look neat and well dressed?”

Enjoy your job
Learn to love what you do. If you don’t enjoy what you do, where you work or the type of work that you do then change jobs or change careers. If you are an admin assistant but you hate sitting in an office then it’s time to move on and start scanning the career columns for sales jobs. Part of the secret of doing well in your job is loving what you do and being passionate about your career.

Good Luck!