In today’s competitive job market, mid-career professionals often find themselves in a challenging position. With a wealth of experience under their belt, they are more than entry-level but may be overlooked for more senior roles.
So, as a career professional, how can you stand out and highlight you are promotion-ready? Here are five tips to help you position yourself for your next career step.
1. Articulate your value proposition
Mid-career professionals have a significant advantage over people new to a job: experience. This experience, however, needs to be effectively articulated.
Start by identifying the value you bring to the organisation and role. Everyone brings specific skills, competencies and ways of operating to their work. You want to understand how your value helps your team and organisation achieve its objectives.
Then, be consistent in the value you deliver through your work and use quantifiable metrics to demonstrate your impact.
2. Master the art of self-promotion
Self-promotion doesn’t mean you brag about yourself. You want to be authentic in building your personal brand and confidently highlight your strengths while remaining humble and receptive to feedback.
The goal of self-promotion is to let people know about your strengths and interests and how you can contribute to completing a project or task. It’s a way to help people better understand you, and your skills and capabilities.
For example, when you finish a complex and challenging project, share what you have learned and achieved with your boss and team. You can also suggest your boss share your learnings with their manager and other department heads. Not only does this help your work stand out, but the learnings will provide valuable insights for other projects.
3. Be an early adopter
How we work and the nature of work is changing. Artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, digitisation, and what the World Economic Forum is calling the ‘fourth industrial revolution’ mean we are experiencing change at an unprecedented rate. Get ready for this change by proactively preparing yourself and be ready to adapt.
Firstly, consider what these changes may mean for you, your profession, and your industry. With that knowledge, you’ll be better placed to determine what action you need to take.
Understanding and using technology is essential in the digital age. Showcase your proficiency in relevant software, platforms, and digital trends. As part of this, don’t forget the human equation. While technical skills are essential, soft skills like communication, decision-making, leadership, and emotional intelligence become increasingly relevant in today’s working world.
4. Don’t play safe
Don’t play safe with your learning. Step outside your comfort zone by experimenting with different concepts and exploring emerging ideas to learn new working methods.
Taking this approach means you don’t wait for someone to tell you what you need to learn. You recognise that the job market is dynamic, with new technologies and methodologies emerging regularly.
Consequently, you actively seek to stay abreast of the latest thinking and ideas from your profession and complementary professions. This learning could be through formal education, online courses, or self-study.
Your efforts will demonstrate to current and potential employers that you’re committed to staying at the forefront of your field.
5. Curate your position
Success requires being conscious of your reputation and how you are viewed in the market.
You want to actively seek to understand how you see yourself and how others see you. With that knowledge, you can identify if there’s a gap between your desired reputation and your actual reputation. The challenge arises when what you are known for doesn’t align with what you’d like to be known for.
For example, if you want to be seen as a visionary leader who can build great teams but others view you you as a technical expert, then there is a mismatch in expectations. A mismatch will result in your career aspirations being unfulfilled. If the decision-makers don’t see you in the way you want to be seen, you won’t get the role, promotion, job assignment, or whatever you are striving to secure.
With critical insights, you are better placed to develop your position in the market authentically. This strategy involves creating a consistent image and message about who you are, what you can do, and what you stand for.
