1. Really refine your elevator pitch
While it will obviously change from time to time, you should
never have a hard time answering, "What do you do?" In fact, you
should be so good at it that people will never forget. So, really spend some
time figuring out what message you want to get across when people ask about
your career. Communication expert Alexandra
Franzen has an exercise to help.
2. Know your superpower
Or, in other words, know the one thing that you're truly amazing
at. Serial entrepreneur Tina Roth Eisenberg says that all the most successful
people she's met know exactly what they're best at: John Maeda, who led the MIT
Media Lab and Rhode Island School of Design, responded with
"curiosity." Maria Popova, who curates the popular Brain Pickings
blog, said "doggedness." Eisenberg's own superpower is enthusiasm.
See how to find your own super power, here.
3. Know your weakness
On the other end of the spectrum, it's key to know what you're
not so great at. Not to make you feel bad — not in the least — but to help you
know who you should hire and work with to complement your skill set and what
tasks you should delegate (so you can spend more time on what you're great at).
On that note...
4. Learn how to delegate
No one can do it all, and especially as you climb the career
ladder, you're going to need to know the difference between the things you
should be spending your time on and the things you shouldn't. And, perhaps more
importantly, be able to effectively and comfortably delegate to others —
interns, staff members, your partner, your childcare provider, you get the
picture.These 10 rules of successful delegation will help you do
it right.
5. Know your career non-negotiables
You're going to have a lot of opportunities come your way in
life, and you don't want to waste energy agreeing to things that really don't
line up with what you want to be doing. So, really be honest about what you
want and need out of your career, and then come up with a list of
non-negotiables that you can use as a guide next time you're making a career
decision. Writer Andrea Shields Nunez has some tips on creating them —
and then actually enforcing them.
6. Do something you're really, really proud of
Whether or not it's something you'll be known for forever,
something you get paid for doing, or even something you really want to do with
your life, make sure you have something on your resume that, deep down, you're
really proud of.
7. Learn from something you're not so proud of
We were going to add "fail at something" to this list,
but that's silly. Because, let's face it, we've all failed miserably at one
point or another. What's more important? Learning from that blunder and taking
that lesson with you productively into the next stage of your career.
8. Stretch your limits
You know you can manage a 30-person meeting, but a 100-person
multi-day travel conference? That might be stretching the limits of your
skills. Actually — this is exactly the type of stuff that you should try once
in a while. After all, you'll never really know how good you are until you step
a bit outside of what you know.
9. Do something that really scares you
This takes stretching your limits a bit further — we're talking
going way out of your comfort zone here. Whether it's speaking at a conference,
going for a (big) promotion, or finally writing that memoir, why not try
something that terrifies you at least once in the early stages of your career?
As they say, big risks can lead to big-time rewards.
10. Get comfortable with getting feedback
Hillary Clinton once said that her biggest piece of advice to
young professionals is: "It's important to take criticism seriously — not
personally." Meaning: Knowing where you're not meeting expectations is the
only way you'll learn and grow as a professional, but taking every harsh word
to heart is a fast way to make your confidence crumble. So, take it from Hillz,
and start taking feedback like a pro. Here are a few tips that'll help.
11. Get comfortable with giving feedback
Whether it's telling your boss that his hourly drop-bys are
really killing the team's mojo or letting your direct report know that arriving
to meetings on time is, in fact, required, giving feedback is a necessary part
of getting what you need and being a happy professional. Learn how to give it
well, ideally sooner rather than later. Career expert Jennifer Winter offers some pointers.
12. Get comfortable with saying no
For just being two measly letters long, "no" seems to
be one of the hardest words in the English language for many of us to say. But
it's actually incredibly important for our careers (and our sanity!) that we
learn to use it and stand behind it. Here's how to say it to your boss, a friend andeveryone else.
13. Have a broad network of people you can trust
We've said it before and we'll say it again (probably at least twice
a week for as long as we're in business), the greatest asset you have in your
career is your network. And building relationships takes time, so start now.
Our free, seven-day email class is here to help.
14. Have a couple of specific career advisors
We're not saying mentor here — because finding the right mentor
shouldn't have a timeline on it and because there are plenty of ways to succeed without one — but having a
couple of people in your corner who can advise you on everything from a
terrible boss to a career 180 is incredibly valuable. And yes, this group of
people can include your mom.
15. Scrub your online presence
Increasingly, what shows up in Google and on your social media
profiles is the first impression someone has of you. So, take some time to
clean 'em up! Change the privacy on any old or questionable photos. Use SimpleWash to delete any Facebook or Twitter posts that
could be incriminating. Game your Google results to make sure the things you want
showing up at the top do.
16. Perfect your LinkedIn profile
Speaking of those things you want showing up at the top, your
LinkedIn profile is perhaps your most prime piece of online real estate. When a
client, future employer, vendor or professional contact is looking for you,
guess where he or she will turn? Yup, LinkedIn. So make sure your profile tells
the story you want it to tell (our complete guide to a perfect LinkedIn profile walks you
through the process).
17. Have a portfolio of your best work
Whether it's a printed collection of articles, marketing
campaigns or annual reports you've worked on or a personal website showcasing
your skills, having a portfolio ready to go will make it easy for you to show
your boss (or future boss) what you've got. Here's more on why you need one, plus some easy ways to
get started today.
18. Know how to sell (yourself or something else)
Yes, even if you never envision a career in cold calling. The
truth is, whether you're pitching an idea to your boss or writing a cover
letter about why you're the perfect candidate, you're going to be selling
something to someone at some point. Get started on your own personal sales
education with these tips.
19. Know how to negotiate
Because, in most cases, it's the only way you're going to get
what you want and deserve. If you've never done it before, we recommend
starting small (asking your boss to, say, pay for a pricey upcoming
conference), and checking out this hour-long webinar that's jam-packed with actionable
advice (and motivation).
20. Know how to manage up
It's a common misconception that you have to grin and bear it
through a superior's assignments, working style or way of doing things, paying
no regard to whether his or her demands are reasonable. In fact, being able to
manage up — or, communicate with your boss and advocate for what you need to do
your job best — is a crucial job skill. Molly Donovan offers some tips for doing it well.
21. Know how to send a killer email
You should never send an email that you're not proud of (or
wouldn't be proud of if your boss saw) again. So make sure you're really
putting care into the professional messages you send!Erin Greenawald has some tips from an editor's perspective on
how to write ones that are flawless. It may sound like a lot of effort, but we
promise it's worth it (and will get easier the more you do it).
22. Master your handshake
This sounds small, but a handshake is the quickest way to make
(or break) an impression. (Fact: A Fortune 500 CEO once said that when he had
to choose between two candidates with similar qualifications, he gave the
position to the candidate with the better handshake.) Learn how to do it right from an expert.
23. Find a to-do list system that works for you
Whether you need your list synced across all of your devices or
you're more of a pen-and-paper kind of guy or gal, commit to finding a to-do
list that helps you manage your workflow in the best way possible. Yes, you
might change methods as you switch jobs or new apps are launched over time, but
knowing what works, what doesn't, and what you like and don't will make sure
that you always have what you need to be your most productive self.
24. Know your energy levels — and use them
There's nothing worse (or less productive) than trying to work
when you're not at your best. You shouldn't spend any more time wasting your
peak mental hours — or forcing yourself to work when you're in an energy slump.
So, really understand and accept when you work best, and then use productivity expert Alex Cavoulacos's advice to map out your ideal day.
25. Know how much sleep you need and commit to getting
it
We hope you learned this lesson in college, but if not: Sleep is
important. Whether you need seven or nine hours, know your number, and get it
regularly. Your health and career depend on it — take it from Arianna Huffington.
26. Know how to manage stress
Stress can really rule and ruin your life, something you don't
want to let it do for long. If stress is an issue for you, nip it in the bud as
early as possible. Career coach Lea McLeod has some advice for how to start mitigating your
stress, but if it's really becoming overwhelming, consider talking
to a professional who can give you strategies.
27. Stop over-apologizing
You may think you're being polite or strengthening your
reputation, but apologizing too much, especially for small things or things out
of your control, could inadvertently instill doubt in your abilities and
undercut your professionalism. Make sure you're saving your apologies for when
you really messed up — not when your co-worker asks you to go back a slide in
your presentation. Check out Lily Herman's tips for making sure you're saying what you really mean.
28. Get over impostor syndrome
Whether you're just getting started in a new field or you've
been climbing the promotion ladder at your company since graduation, impostor
syndrome can plague any professional. But the truth is, it's hurting your
career (not to mention your self-esteem). Here's why — and here are a few ways to get over feeling like a fraud and
start feeling like the badass you are.
29. Have a career emergency plan
What would you do if you got laid off tomorrow? If you don't
have an answer (or your answer is "Freak out! Panic!"), it's time to
come up with a career emergency plan. A crisis, like being let go or having
your company go under, isn't something you ever want to think about, but if it
happened, wouldn't you rather have a ready-to-go action plan than be running
around like a crazy person trying to get anyone to hire you? Here's how to get yours started ASAP.
30. Pick up a side project
Ever wondered how you'd do at consulting? Thought about opening
up an Etsy store or restoring and selling old cars? Try it out. At best, you'll
find a new career or source of income, and at the very least you'll have some
variety in your day to day.
31. Invest in your retirement
We know: In the early stages of your career, it can be hard to
fork over any of that precious paycheck. But savings compounds over time, so
starting early means you'll have exponentially more in your later years (to,
you know, live it up on a boat sipping mai tais all day). Here'severything you need to know to get started.
32. Invest in yourself
Today's working world is changing faster than ever, and to stay
on top of your professional game, it's important to continue to grow your
skills. Oh, and this doesn't have to mean going to grad school. Here are 50 totally cheap and doable ways to add some professional
development into your routine.
33. Invest in the world
Whether it's volunteering your skills to a nonprofit in need or
mentoring a junior employee, little feels better than giving back to the world. Here are a few ideas you may not have considered.
34. Know what you don't want
You don't have to know what you want to be when you grow up by
35 (or, hey, 95). But, assuming you want to have a job and career you love,
it's important to at least keep thinking about it — if not actively chasing it.
And, often, the first step to knowing what you do want is ruling out what you
don't want. Don't want a dictator for a boss? A sales role? A management
position? Great. Whittle away some options, and you're at least getting closer.
35. Give yourself permission to go after what you do
Oh, and if you do know what you want? Start taking steps to go
after it. Yes, careers are long, but why spend one more day than you have to
not doing what you want? You have our permission. We hope you have yours, too.
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