“How can I develop my professional career and prevent it from becoming stagnant or not making the progress I would like?” — this is a question shared by many higher education students, recent graduates and professionals working in the market .
This is because there is a large number of people looking for a job or a better position in the workplace who not only have extensive academic qualifications, but also have experience in large organizations, diversified portfolios and awards for previous projects.
Therefore, it is natural that competition increases, companies become even more demanding when hiring and/or promoting employees, and selection processes become more selective than they already are.
For this reason, we have created a post to inspire you in your professional career and show you how to excel in your career in a concrete way in this scenario full of adversities. Take note!
Set your goals
To develop your professional career, you need, first of all, to have clear goals. This is because, when you don’t have a destination, the most you can do is go round and round (and sometimes you don’t even get anywhere). Therefore, think about the type of work you want to do, what position you want to have, what your income is and what benefits you want to receive each month, and so on.
All of this will help you find not only the ideal job, but also the companies that can offer it. Not to mention, of course, the requirements you will need to meet to get it.
Read and study more
The second suggestion is to read and study more, especially content related to your profession. Keep in mind that this is a good way to remember the topics you learned in college — especially those from the first semesters —, keep up with the latest news to optimize your time and work in your field, learn about changes in the sector, stay up to date with the prospects for growth and expansion in the coming years, etc.
To this end, there is no shortage of scientific publications, academic journals, legal opinions, official resolutions and publications produced (such as newspapers, magazines, booklets, reports and censuses) by the federal and regional councils of the professional categories themselves.
Learn a new language
Learning a new language is essential for anyone who wants a successful professional career. After all, fluency in other languages opens many doors to knowledge and your performance in the job market.
For example, you can take complementary courses for your academic training at institutes abroad and read and review scientific materials that involve discoveries and new bets in the profession — something that is very common in the areas of health and technology.
In addition, you will be able to work in a team with colleagues from abroad who do not speak your mother tongue, participate in meetings with international partners and suppliers, represent the company at events outside the country and work in branches based in other countries.
Get an MBA or a specialization
Investing in a postgraduate degree is an essential step to advance your professional career and have a more defined and refined academic background. With an MBA , for example, you will gain training in corporate management and the marketing practices involved in business administration.
With a specialization , you have the chance to study a specific segment of work, the social, ethical and legal aspects it involves and the practical applications of this field of knowledge in the most diverse sectors.
Take short courses
Short courses are great for enriching and diversifying your CV. The reason for this is that they help you develop soft skills , improve technical skills necessary for your profession, deepen your knowledge of contemporary market topics and gain a more up-to-date view of different roles (entrepreneurship, civil service, CLT, freelancer and self-employed, for example).
Participate in events in your professional category
In addition to what has already been said, try to participate in as many events as possible that involve professionals in your field, to exchange information, create a network of contacts , delve deeper into the challenges of the market and learn more about the segments of specialization.
The higher education environment, for example, usually hosts many lectures, workshops, conferences, discussion groups and the like. In addition, you can follow the events held by the federal and regional councils in your field, as these bodies frequently promote forums, congresses, international meetings, assemblies and much more.
Apply to a trainee program
If you are about to graduate or have just graduated, pay attention to the trainee programs available for your field. They are great opportunities to join large companies in the market and gain more technological knowledge, experience in creating and managing regional/national projects, mentoring from qualified and influential professionals in the market and experience in international operations and processes.
Do a work exchange
Finally, one last tip for professional development is to do a work exchange. Many exchange agencies offer this type of program that allows interested parties to spend a period abroad — six months or more — to carry out paid activities in their field of expertise.
The most interesting thing is that it is possible to opt not only for work, but also for a language improvement course, an extension course at college or even a sandwich degree in parallel.
This is an excellent opportunity to gain a broader view of national and global economic aspects, experience the pace and specificities of the job market in other nations, gain professional experience and make contacts that will help you internationalize your operations.
As shown, there are many ways to boost your professional career, increase the excellence and competitiveness of your resume and, consequently, follow an upward trajectory within the market. Therefore, it is important to commit yourself, invest heavily in your studies and continually seek immersion in your area of expertise.