How to Master Career Progression

Career progression is a big part of the professional working environment, and there will come a time when we ask ourselves the big career question “what’s next for me?”

Irrespective of the job you do or the industry you work in, there will be a few career options for you to consider.

These include:

• Staying where you are and making no changes.
• Upskilling to take on additional responsibility in your current workplace to increase your earning potential.
• Moving to another company, where you can either work in a similar job role (again for more money), or try something completely new, often requiring additional training and certifications.

In this article, we discuss the techniques and processes you can undertake to confidently master your career progression.

What is career progression?

Career progression is the steps we take to advance our careers throughout our working life.

It is the process of moving forward, being promoted, exploring new opportunities and challenges, and getting the most out of your career in general. These goals and challenges are long-term in nature, and some people may go their whole working lives without completing everything they set out to achieve.

Some professions have clearly defined and laid out career paths, enabling you to reach your desired job title or salary bracket, while others do not. As such, it's useful to have a good understanding of your industry and what you want to achieve in your career.

It pays to have a career plan in place, where you set out to achieve something, check it off, and then work on the next thing on your list. This way you are always growing and developing and progressing closer to your end goals.

How to progress in your career

We have developed 7 tips for you to use to progress your career:

Create (and stick to) a career development plan - A clear career development plan outlines your career path from your starting point (where you are right now) to where you want to get to. This plan will help to keep you focused and on track to reaching your next career milestone.

Set goals - Goal setting is an important process, especially for focused career development.  

Setting SMART goals will help to guide you through the steps you need to take to advance your career, whether it be to learn something new, set appointments with senior leaders, or work on key skills needed for the job you want next.

SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely.

Improve your skills - Considering working towards filling one of the top jobs within your business will require you to stay ahead of the competition. One of the best ways to do this is to update your skill set, so you can perform more complex duties most others can’t do. Spend time upskilling yourself and gaining new skills, knowledge, and certifications to keep ahead.

Take advantage of your work appraisals - You will receive both criticism and praise during your appraisals, and both will help build your character. Use these opportunities to become better by improving your overall work performance.

Appraisals also allow you to keep track of your current career progress and provide a great opportunity to develop your goals. Share these goals with your manager if you’re looking to work towards a promotion to progress your career.

Keep motivated - It’s great to reach a new financial milestone, but it doesn’t end there. Keep pursuing your progression goals. Remember, if your current company doesn't support progression, it might be time to move on to a new organisation that can facilitate and support your growth ambitions.

Be vocal - Speak with your senior leadership team about your career ambitions and goals to speed up your progression. Formulate and discuss the steps required for your progression, to make it easier to plan for your career advancement. This shows that you’re actively putting your career goals into action and puts you in the frame for consideration when the role officially becomes available.

Find a mentor - Many professionals account part of their success to great mentors in their lives, and the same can be said for those considering ambitious career progression. Your mentor will be responsible for guiding you by identifying the necessary skills you must have to be successful. They can also support you when facing challenges in your career and advise you on steps to take to overcome those challenges.

Does career progression lead to larger salaries?

There are a few reasons why you may choose to advance your career, including taking on more responsibility, moving into a management position, or increasing your earning potential. In most cases, as you take on more responsibility, you are usually rewarded with a higher salary and more or better benefits, such as a company car, shares in the business, and a higher pension contribution from your employers.

The benefits of career progression

Advancing your career can help you in 5 essential ways:

• Provide you with greater job satisfaction.
• Future-proof your career.
• Increase your earning potential and overall financial package.
• Enable you to take on and overcome new challenges.
• Boost your confidence.

Are you ready to master your career progression? Upskill to gain the necessary skills, knowledge, and certificates to advance your career through our training courses.

To get started or discuss your requirements in more detail, call our Course Consultants on +44 (0) 20 3198 7700 or fill out our contact form, and someone will be in touch with you to go through your training options.