How to Get Ahead in Your Job
People often wonder why they never seem to get ahead in their jobs. The old adage of “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results,” couldn’t be truer when talking about your job. If you’re fed up with looking for low paying jobs and want to find ways to get ahead, here are some pointers that may help you.
Reliability
Sometimes you need to put yourself in the place of your employer. If it was you who had the company, you would want a reliable team of employees to show up on time, work as hard as they could and enjoy what they do. When you’re an employee, it’s sometimes hard to understand why you should do any of those things since you’re not getting paid the same wage as the owner!
Regardless, your manager and employer will look upon you and your actions to determine what type of worker you are. This will reflect upon how they base your raises, whether you move up in the company and even how they work with you on personal matters.
Reliability and punctuality are near the top of the list. Compare these two fictional employees and who you think will move ahead:
| John | Phil |
| Always at work on time and sometimes early | Consistently shows up 10-15 minutes late everyday |
| Called in sick twice during the year (with proof that he was really ill) | Called in sick 10 times during the year (usually on a Monday or Friday) with odd excuses |
| Offered to stay late a few times to help get a project done | Leaves work a few minutes early each day |
| Mentored new employees without being asked | Badmouths management around other employees |
| Found ways to improve processes within the company and made the suggestion to his manager | Checks his phone constantly throughout the day |
If you were the manager of these two guys, who would you rather have working for you? The choice is clear and it doesn’t take that much effort to do the right thing. While we all carry our phones around and they’re a huge distraction, force yourself to turn them off while you’re working because no manager wants to see you doing personal stuff while you’re getting paid to work.
Continuing Education
Just when you thought your education was finished after you got out of school, it’s important to keep up to date in your industry and find ways of furthering your knowledge. It’s also a positive sign to your employer that you’re interested in what you do and want to be the best you possibly can.
There are so many online choices for education these days that you may not need to spend time in a traditional classroom in order to obtain new skills. You can also be on the lookout for other positions in the company that may pay more, yet take a minimal investment on your behalf to get there.
For example, in the case of The Recruitment Company, we are constantly in need of forklift operators. It doesn’t take much to learn how to drive one or to invest in a license. There are bound to be many places offering training near you and it could bump up your pay significantly. The same goes for truck drivers. For the ladies out there, don’t be intimidated by these types of jobs. There are plenty of women who hold positions in companies with these skills…it’s not just a man’s job!
Once you have completed your educational courses (some come with certificates), be sure to let your manager know and don’t be afraid to put what you’ve learned to work! Owners of companies are always looking for better ways of doing things and making processes more efficient. You may think they should know these things already, but often they don’t. By suggesting what may work better could help you get ahead by essentially, acting like YOU own the business.
Managers and owners aren’t in the position you are, but you may know more about your particular department and how it’s run than they do. It’s important to them to have someone who is always on the watch for improvements and they’ll defer to them when they have serious questions. Become that person and you will find yourself in their good graces. More than likely, you will be rewarded down the line with some sort of compensation.
Having a CV
Many people don’t find the time to write a comprehensive CV, either because they don’t feel it’s necessary or they don’t know how. Again, this is where your first impression becomes important. Showing a history of your employment with dates, locations, names of companies and references tells your future employer that you’re up front about who you are and what you know.
Take the time to sit down and gather your history of your past employment and try an online CV generator. No manager is going to take the time to question missing gaps in your employment or look for your old employer’s phone number…they’ll just trash it and move on to the next.
It’s also best to write down why you left the jobs you had because typically, you’ll be asked. Remain honest about it, as there are always ways of finding out if they wanted to know. Honesty is the best policy when it comes to employment issues. Even if it’s an embarrassing situation or something you’re not proud of, at least you were honest and that’s what counts!
Just Ask
Finally, if you want to learn how to get ahead in your job, ask your manager! Enthusiasm and initiative shows your boss that you care about your position in the company. Follow through with their ideas and suggestions and do the best you possibly can in order to get ahead. This will only compound positively over time and eventually, you’ll make more money and hold higher positions in the companies you work for.
A small amount of effort on your behalf can lead to a better future for you and your family without having to worry about how you’re going to pay the bills. One day, you’ll look back on your career and realise that you did the right thing. So why not start today?
The Recruitment Company helps you find a job and also provides training! We have offices in the Hawke’s Bay area, Christchurch and Nelson. Browse through our available positions or register with us to be notified of upcoming jobs!