The Parade December 2015 | Page 51

E Ways to stand out at your job Parade Writer ver wondered why one of your peers seems to excel at his duty better than anyone else? Why do ‘others’ get the promotion when you are similarly qualified? At some point in our careers and lives we ask ourselves these questions because sometimes it seems we do not get our fair share of the opportunities. However, studying the persons that get chosen for a promotion ahead may just help to understand where we are lacking. Below we will discuss attributes that are common with people that often stand out and you will measure yourself against the same scorecard to see where you currently stand. 1 Page 51 2015 ics h by Grap July 5 t of The Bes it is not taken on board. Showing an initiative proves that you are ready for more responsibilities and your superiors will remember this. 2 Always offer ideas and solutions - we may see people who do this as being overzealous. However, bosses often consider handing extra duties to people who seem to show an initiative ahead of others. Suggesting a better way of doing things or saving company resources will earn you a great amount of goodwill with your immediate bosses. So next time when you know something that everyone else doesn’t, you must not hesitate to say it even if 3 Make contributions during meetings - if you really want to progress with your career then you have to show it. There is no better place to showcase this than company meetings. It does not matter which topic is up for discussion, make it known that you have an opinion. Sleeping during meetings maybe seen as petulance yet more importantly, it signals that you are not ready for bigger roles. When the next meeting is held, be the first to make the contribution, you will never know where such comments will land you. Do more than what your job requires when you get employed, you are informed of what is expected of you. However, as time passes you will realise there is some tasks that are being neglected. Adding that task to your portfolio again shows that you are initiative and that you want to improve things. The Parade - Zimbabwe’s Most Read Lifestyle Magazine Managers will notice this and it makes their job of looking for a suitable candidate for promotion much easier. This means you will have to avoid this common refrain, ‘that’s not my job’. 4 5 Offer help to others - not everyone will have it easy doing their assigned tasks; some will struggle even with menial duties. A person that standouts will always offer a helping hand to those that need help. This is another mark of those that stand out and one that you should always aim to do. Volunteer when you can - from time to time there will arise a need for a volunteer; be the first to volunteer. This again enhances your chances of rising to the top. Granted it’s not always easy to emulate the above attributes but we can all agree that those who possess or who have perfected these always seem to be the favoured ones. You can train yourself to be good at it each one of them. You will realise that everyone will gain confidence in you and with that improved chances of career advancement TP December 2015