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To get ahead, you must establish yourself within your company. This way, when opportunities arise, colleagues in other departments might think to recommend you. Don't underestimate the importance of communication skills, which are often valued as more important than academic qualifications by companies.
Being a sociable member of a team establishes you as someone who is confident with excellent people skills. When opportunities come up within other teams, your colleagues will be more willing to consider you if they know a little bit about you. However, smiling and asking how someone's weekend was is one thing, stopping for half-hour chats will turn you into the office gossip, so be careful. You want to come across as someone who is personable and friendly - not a distraction.
Sell yourself
There's no room for modesty when it comes to getting ahead in business, as we've already established that hard work is not enough. Get your manager to acknowledge your hard work in meetings, through internal emails, newsletters or bulletins. Otherwise you never know who's taking the credit for your work. And don't be shy about asking your boss to do this, take the credit - you've earned it.
Take an outside interest
Putting in extra hours in the office is a pointless activity if no one is valuing your efforts, and we're not counting the cleaners here. Those precious hours might even work against you if your manager believes you lack the time-management skills to complete your work in the hours provided. But if you have the time, attending non-mandatory professional events outside of work, such as networking events, can do wonders for your career.
Not only will you get your face recognised within the industry (opening you up to even more job opportunities), you can then send out self-serving emails, detailing the events and inviting people to get involved. Try to think of ways you can contribute to the company outside your current job description and highlight those activities. It won't go unnoticed.
Find your niche
What's going to be the next big thing to affect the industry you're working in? Find out what it is and become an expert in it. It could be a new law that's coming in that will directly affect your department or a technological development that will impact your industry. A little research could make you the expert in your department, your colleagues will then see you as a point of reference, proving yourself invaluable to the company - someone who adapts well to change and focuses on solutions rather than creating complications.
Take on the dull jobs
The filing system that needs reorganising, the new recruit who needs training and the networking event that everyone else seems too busy for - you'll win serious brownie points by taking on the kinds of responsibilities that everyone else shies away from. Be the kind of employee who willingly takes on the undesirable jobs and show you are happy to get your hands dirty. Being a great role model is part of what makes a successful manager.
Click here to read our feature on the art of getting noticed
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