The most major shift in working life over the last two years has been the move to working from home. Whether this is your first time working from home, or a continuation of normal practice, studies suggest it is more likely to be adopted as a way of working in the future.
In light of this shift, we asked the question - ‘Do you feel that working from home has affected your career progression?’ on a LinkedIn Poll. 45% told us that they felt that this had been the case.
Career progression can mean the recognition and reward for efforts in your current roles/ company or progressing onto the next step of your career somewhere new.
There are many aspects that make an individual a stand-out candidate when it comes time for a promotion or for a new role elsewhere. Below we have put together a few helpful tips to help you push ahead while based at home.
Communicate
Communication is probably the most crucial aspect of working from home. In terms of internal promotion, the key difference between on-site working and home working is visibility. Both may have the same level of output but if one can be seen doing the work, and the other cannot, they may stand a better chance when it comes time for a promotion. Ensure you stay visible by having regular contact with your line manager to discuss targets and work produced thus far. Regular communication with colleagues will also ensure your involvement with group activities and decision making.
In a world where a ‘personal touch’ seems lost amongst communication, it is more important than ever to make the effort to pick up the phone and arrange video calls in place of an e-mail.
Take every opportunity to make your work stand out
Make sure you provide yourself with every opportunity to make your work stand out. Think of innovative ways such as considering how your work will be used e.g is the end-user also working from home? Would an interactive PDF be easier to digest than a printed report? As with anyone looking to progress in their career, you present yourself as a much better candidate if you look to go above and beyond in your role.
A great way to increase your visibility when working remotely is to put yourself forward for additional activities or responsibilities. Whether this be inclusion in other projects, or making long-awaited improvements to ways of working that makes a positive impact to the rest of your team, taking on additional responsibilities demonstrate you possess key attributes that put you forward as a good candidate.
Agree on your personal goals, and meet them
It’s always good to reflect on your long-term career goals and set objectives to get you there.
For internal promotions, your line manager plays a key role in the process; if they are not aware of your goals, they will be unable to support you in achieving them. Make sure that your line management is aware of your personal goals and agree a way that these can be supported and developed in a way that also meets the needs of the business. Once you have these objectives, focus on completing them to the best of your ability, and continue to measure your progress with your line manager.
If your current role doesn’t provide you with the opportunities to reach your goals, it’s time to look outside of your current position. Career planning is vital for success in your long-term goals.
At VANRATH building career success stories is what we do. We are experts in helping you find your next step and reach your personal career goals, even when you have no idea what the next step should be.
For us, it’s more than just finding you a job you are suitable for, it’s about building a sustainable career with the right roles and the right company to fit with your unique goals and experience.
Want to read more articles like this? We post regularly on our LinkedIn page too, follow us to keep up to date. If you’re seeking immediate career advice call 028 9033 0250 or e-mail belfast@vanrath.com.
