Career Advancement Dos and Don'ts

"I feel stuck in my career. What can I do to become more successful and happy?"

Career success and satisfaction are in the eyes of the beholder. Although there is no one secret to career success, certain attitudes and behaviors can advance your career. Others can harm it.

Here are some career advancement dos and don'ts.

1. Don't select an occupation because it's a hot trend. Observe trends to remain relevant, but don't choose an occupation because experts predict it will be in demand. Working in a job you dislike is stressful, unproductive.

Avoid other career pitfalls. Don't take a job you dislike just to be employed, to please others, or to sell goods or services in which you don't believe.

2. Do have a passion for your career - and life. Your passion or purpose is your compass. It keeps you on the right path. Knowing and following your purpose gives you the courage to risk, to manage fear, to motivate yourself.

If you're having difficulty finding the real you, listen to your inner voice. Get help from a reputable career counselor.

Live with passion, as well. Your purpose should also be reflected in family and leisure activities.

3. Don't have unrealistic expectations. Don't expect immediate financial benefits. It takes time and work to build a career.

4. Do plan your career. Be proactive. Periodically reappraise yourself, your job and career goals.

Know yourself. List personal qualities (purpose, needs, interests, skills) you want expressed in your ideal job. Explore compatible options. Consider the work environment, job tasks and requirements, and fit with personal qualities.

Clarify your goal. Know why you want this goal, how you and others will benefit. State your goal in the present, indicating desired outcomes.

Intend to achieve your goal. Outline your goal, strategies and time-line. Break the goal into small steps, working backward from your desired outcomes.

Persevere. Focus on goals daily.

5. Don't waste time. Time can't be reproduced. Manage it wisely. Get up an hour earlier each day to think and plan. Make a to-do list. Review your daily record to recognize self-defeating habits and work patterns. Identify how you can modify your schedule and tasks to save time.

Discourage impromptu socializing, phone calls or emails that aren't job related. Learn to say no.

Delegate. Delegating jobs, along with authority and responsibility to the right people, enables you to complete your most important tasks. Give credit to people to whom you've delegated work.

Use an organizer. Don't procrastinate. Make that appointment or phone call now. Plan time for personal development and recreation.

6. Do continue to learn. Knowledge is power. Your skills should be in sync with the changing needs of your employer, profession and industry. Stay current with emerging knowledge and technologies through seminars, newsletters, professional associations and the Internet.

Ensure training and certification align with your career goals. Get relevant experience. Practical know-how enables you to solve problems creatively, quickly.

7. Don't avoid challenges and risks. View challenges as exciting new learning experiences. See risks as opportunities to grow. They broaden skills, offer opportunities to interact with experienced colleagues and create new opportunities. If you don't try something different, how will know you whether you can do it?

Turn obstacles into opportunities. View disappointments as temporary setbacks. Depersonalize and learn from failure. Setbacks can be the impetus to move on to bigger, better projects.

8. Look and act professional. Professionalism encompasses many attitudes and behaviors. Your image, the perception people have of you, consists of such personal skills as poise, effective communication, and an air of competence, authority and integrity. These skills enable you to interact comfortably, engender credibility.

Professionalism also includes trust, fairness, respect, ethics, politeness and integrity. Professionals value others, deliver as promised, are dependable, supportive and strive for excellence.

9. Don't isolate yourself. Build networks. Know what's happening in your company and industry. Maintain contact with colleagues, customers and others. Exchange ideas, information, job leads. Be active, visible. Serve on community committees. Associate with positive, supportive people.

Don't burn bridges. When you change jobs, leave on a positive note. Former clients and colleagues can provide references and advice.

10. Do communicate appropriately. Listen. The most effective professionals spend approximately 80 percent of their time listening. Listening requires energetic participation, openness and receptivity. Sometimes, it requires intense conversation; other times it needs silence.

Ask questions when you're not clear about something. Summarize what you hear to correct misunderstanding. Listen between the lines. Let the person know you understand what they're feeling.

Watch what you put in emails and say to others. Avoid negative comments about people or organizations.

11. Don't let positive qualities become hindrances. While qualities such as confidence are positive, they lose their value when they become excessive. People who have too much confidence may be arrogant, unrealistic, and blind to their limitations. Those driven by too great a need for achievement may be ruthless in their single-minded pursuit of major accomplishments.

12. Do use the power of your mind. You have the power to control your career. Develop and use your intuition.

Maintain optimism. Reinforce the positive in yourself and others. Expect good things. Focus on what you can do. Acknowledge your accomplishments and judge them against personal standards. Begin each day with a positive thought.

Keep growing, moving forward.

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