Everyone tells you work hard and you'll advance. Hard work does pay off. They also say make sure to get along and keep the status quo. For the most part, it's good advice but makes getting ahead a slow process. The best way to accelerate your career advancement is to get noticed for your positive contributions.
To get noticed you must be easy to work with, persistent, consistent and yield positive results.
That being said - here are a couple of ways to get noticed:
Find opportunities to introduce yourself to upper management - corporate functions, in the break room, during meetings, visit other departments your team interacts with regularly, participate in company programs, find out interests of the executives and see they match your own and you can bond over the common interest. These are some of the ways to create opportunities to make a good first impression.
Find a sponsor/mentor within the company - someone that has helped others and can help you navigate your career at the company. Your mentor helps you self evaluate your work, your skills and gives you tangible advice on how to solve work problems. They often can recommend you for other positions in the company.
Find a mentor outside of the company - someone outside of your department or company that can be objective and ask questions that wouldn't necessarily come to mind. This person helps you think through situations, and come up with strategies. They see the big picture and above all else remain objective.
Do a favor - do a favor for another department manager. Pick a team that you are interested in and show your stuff. Approach that manager and let them know that you are available to help. This is a great way be seen and heard by others who need your talent. It's also a way to get positive attention
Volunteer - like doing a favor it gets you seen by executives and department managers. Volunteering helps you get appreciation as well.
The key to using these techniques successfully, is to make sure you are authentic, really interested in working with the people you approach and keep your word by doing what you say you can. Experienced professionals can sense those who are fake and won't keep their promise.
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