1. Live, travel and work abroad
The world we live in is changing. The internet has revolutionized how different cultures and countries interact and communicate with one another. Countries can no longer look inward as being part of the globalized world is of huge importance. That’s why employers are placing an increasing value on travel or work experience abroad. Moreover, knowing a foreign language will make you a much more marketable employee.
2. Take advantage of your bomb networking skills
Millennials have both the blessing and the curse of having grown up with the internet at their fingertips. What many millennials don’t realize is that this can be a huge professional advantage. Use your excellent social media skills to do some networking. With hundreds of thousands of professionals around the world interacting online every day, don’t be afraid to reach out to some of them. You could find an important contact for your business, a potential employer or someone in your career with solid professional advice.
3. Find a mentor from another generation
There’s no better way to find out how to make your dreams come true than talking to someone who’s already done it themselves. Make an effort to find an older professional who is in a similar place you would like to be in your career when you’re older. They’ll have valuable insight on what opportunities to prepare and lookout for.
4. Make sacrifices now to invest in your future
Working late or spending extra time on professional projects is a great way to invest in your future. Though staying in to work may sound like a bore compared to a night out with friends, it’s worth investing in your career early on so when you’re a bit older you’ll be closer to reaching your goals and have more financial and professional freedom.
5. Create an online work profile
With all the time millennials spend on the internet, it should be obvious that having a professional presence online can open up opportunities. An online website with a brief description of you as a professional, your contact information, previous work and a resume will join together all your accomplishments in one place. A website is also easy to update, share and include in the signature of an email.
6. Make a plan
Though you don’t need to know exactly where you will be in 6 months, a year or 5 years, it’s a great idea to think about these things while embarking on your career. Setting short-term, medium-term and long-term goals will help you then be able to organize a plan of attack. Though these plans will probably change in some way, having a sense of direction will keep a young professional on their career path.
7. Don’t be afraid to fail
All professionals fear failure, though it can particularly inhibit young professionals. When you just start out in your career, it can be difficult to put your neck out there because you have yet to prove yourself to yourself. You have to go for it anyway. The only way to get your big break is to put yourself out there.
8. Be your own professional cheerleader
This isn’t high school – it’s your career. It’s OK to brag about yourself through the appropriate channels. Using social media and other platforms like LinkedIn to share examples of your work and mention professional milestones is a great way to promote yourself. After some time passes you’ll also have an online register of your professional development that will be online for potential employers to see for themselves.
Sources: Forbes
Photo 1. based on Career, by GotCredit, CC-by-2.0
Photo 2. based on Scrabble – Career, by Flazingo Photos, CC-by-2.0
Photo 3. based on 14338-Career Development Cover-6610.jpg, by Texas A&M University-Commerce Marketing Communications Photography, CC-by-2.0