Once you have a job, it's so easy to stop developing. However, in order to improve your career prospects, it's vital that you continue to develop a variety of skills so that you're always on top of your game! Earlier in the year, we produced two articles that are great companion blogs to read after this one. They will add to your understanding of how to keep improving. The first is 'How to Promote Yourself at Work' a great one to start with, then also 'Ready For a Promotion? Here's How To Get One'. Both of these will add to this blog with further information that could really help you. Knowing what skills to continue developing and understanding how to keep improving can be difficult. Improving your chances of growing within your existing role or skilling up for your next career adventure will need some planning. That's why we have compiled this list of the top skills you should be developing to improve your career prospects.
1-Time Management and Deadline Skills
As you continue to develop within your career, chances are you're going to end up doing more. Therefore, it's important that as your workload increases, you develop your time management and deadline skills. Time management skills are vital in the process of increasing productivity in the office. You would be amazed by how much more you can pack into your day with a time management strategy and good software to back this up. Linkedin Learning has some great courses on time management, and there is lots of amazing software out there. Lifehack has some great examples of software that can help you organise your day better. Put this all together, and you will be flying, producing more work in less time!
2 - Communication Skills
Communication skills are absolutely vital, regardless of the career that you work in. From the initial moment you get in touch with a potential employer, they will be scrutinising and looking at how you behave. Therefore, it's vital that you take the time to develop in all aspects of your communication, whether that's by improving how you speak over the phone or adjusting your email etiquette.
Make sure that you pay attention to the details of any work that you do and take the time to listen when you are having a conversation. The way that you communicate should be impeccable; strong communication skills will improve your career prospects in the future, so keep learning. Again, Linkedin Learning has some great courses on communication skills. You will be amazed how little tweaks can improve your perception within your company and with external clients or customers.
3 - Flexibility and Adaptability
If you are both flexible and adaptable, you are likely to increase and improve your career prospects in a huge way. The ability to manage multiple assignments at the same time and be flexible enough to work under ever-changing conditions is highly appreciated.
In today's working world, a job description is fluid, and often, employees find themselves doing jobs that they didn't know they had to. This ability to adapt from one responsibility to another is a big advantage and demonstrates your commitment to the organisation. This will influence and increase your chances of career progression and make you a more sought-after candidate. So embrace any change, and make it known that you are the go-to person if anything outside the box needs doing. Word will soon get around, and your value within your company will grow!
4 - Public Speaking
As you progress throughout your career, chances are that you're going to meet more and more people and have to speak in front of them. A great way to prepare yourself for this is to practice public speaking and really nail it! Public speaking is a crucial skill to have, and it requires a lot of self-confidence and practice. Even though it may come more naturally for some people, it's a skill that is sought after by employers, so it's important that you take the time to develop it. We mentioned Toastmasters in our blog 'How to Promote Yourself at Work,' which is one of the best ways to improve your public speaking. Never underestimate the value of being able to speak concisely and fluidly in front of people; it is a skill that will get you far!
5 - Ability to Learn from Criticism
It's easy, especially when you're in your first job, to dread receiving feedback. However, in order to improve your career prospects, it's vital that you learn to take criticism on board as it helps you in the future. All types of criticism are things that you can change, so look at them as opportunities to improve. Lean into them, and show people that you are happy to tackle them and that you are using them as helpful feedback to improve. If you take this attitude, you will be head and shoulders above the person who takes them personally and ignores them.
If a person demonstrates an attitude that is appreciative of feedback, it can show employers that you are willing to learn. This will be rewarded with better career prospects as your employer will know they can count on you to iron out any problems that may get in your way of success!
Summary and Actionable Tips for Skill Development
Developing the skills necessary for career advancement requires a proactive approach. Here are actionable tips for each of the five key skills to help you embark on your journey to career success:
1- Enhance Time Management and Meet Deadlines
Set Clear Priorities: Start each day by listing tasks in order of importance. Use tools like Trello or Asana to organises and prioritise your work.
Use the Pomodoro Technique: Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. This helps maintain focus and efficiency throughout the day.
Reflect on Your Day: Spend 10 minutes at the end of each day evaluating what you accomplished and planning for the next day.
2 - Improve Communication Skills
Practice Active Listening: Make a conscious effort to really listen during conversations, meetings, and even in casual interactions. Summarise what the other person has said to ensure understanding.
Engage in Public Speaking: Join a local Toastmasters club to practice public speaking. Alternatively, record yourself speaking on a topic, then watch and critique your performance.
Write Daily: Improve your writing skills by keeping a journal, blogging, or writing detailed emails. Focus on clarity, brevity, and impact.
3 - Cultivate Flexibility and Adaptability
Learn to Say Yes: Take on new challenges that push you out of your comfort zone, whether it's a project outside your usual scope or a task that requires you to learn new skills.
Adopt a Growth Mindset: View challenges as opportunities to grow. Read books or listen to podcasts that promote a growth mindset, like "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol S. Dweck.
Practice Problem-Solving: Regularly engage in activities that require problem-solving and creative thinking. This can be puzzles, strategy games, or brainstorming sessions on hypothetical scenarios.
4 - Master Public Speaking
Start Small: Begin by speaking in front of a mirror, then progress to speaking in front of friends or family before stepping up to larger, more formal settings.
Seek Feedback: After every speaking opportunity, ask for constructive feedback from your audience. Focus on areas for improvement, such as body language, pace, and clarity.
Watch and Learn: Observe effective public speakers, either in person or through videos. Take note of their techniques, such as how they engage the audience, their speech structure, and their use of pauses.
5 - Embrace and Learn from Criticism
Request Specific Feedback: After completing tasks or projects, ask for specific feedback on what you did well and areas where you can improve.
Keep a Feedback Journal: Document the feedback you receive, your reflections on it, and how you plan to implement this advice. Review this journal periodically to assess your progress.
Develop a Thick Skin: Remind yourself that criticism is not personal but a tool for growth. Practice responding to criticism with gratitude and a plan for improvement.
Developing these skills won't happen overnight, but by integrating these actionable tips into your daily routine, you'll make consistent progress. Remember, the journey to improving your career prospects is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay committed, be patient with yourself, and celebrate your achievements along the way.
Conclusion
Bringing all these skills together will greatly improve your career prospects. The only thing we would add to this list is to be good at critical thinking! An article by MSN covered the story about the ten books Elon Musk says to read instead of getting an MBA. On the top of his list was the book Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking by M. Neil Browne. This book can help bridge the gap between blindly accepting information and the greater challenge of critical analysis. The habits and attitudes associated with critical thinking are transferable to any situation and career. It gives strategies for responding to alternative points of view and will help develop a solid foundation for making personal choices about what to accept and what to reject. This sort of educational improvement can only help in your quest to make the best of your career; keep learning, and keep improving! We hope all this advice helps, and don't forget to read those extra blog posts we mentioned earlier. We have listed them below again for you.
https://prestigerecruitmentgroup.com/career-adviser/how-to-promote-yourself-at-work
https://prestigerecruitmentgroup.com/career-adviser/ready-for-a-promotion-heres-how-to-get-one