How you can add value to your career

Are you just doing your job or are you investing in building your career?

Irrespective of what career you take up, it is important that you add value to both the organisation you work for and to your own life.

Your current job holds the mirror to how your future will be.

T Muralidharan, head-Human Resources, Manpower Consulting Services tells you how you can invest your time and skills to build a bright future.

Learn something new every day

One of the greatest mistakes people make is they stop learning after they find a job.

In order to grow up the career ladder, you have to keep adding new skills to your profile.

Pick up a skill that you think will add value to your profile and get working on it.

Sign up for a skill training workshop, download a learning app or simply log on to YouTube and learn something like say How to speak French.

Build relationships at work

We spend anything between 40 to 50 hours a week at work.

If you want to be happy, it is important that you build your relationship with your co-workers.

If you’re going to be selfish and self centred, chances are you will be sidelined sooner or later.

Simple things like celebrating your co-worker’s birthday or sharing your lunch could help improve the way you handle responsibilities as a team.

Network beyond business

The word ‘networking’ is mistaken by most professionals.

It is skill that goes beyond than just exchanging business cards at a meeting.

Once you find the appropriate contact -- one who is important for your career -- you must invest in the contact – even when you don’t have a favour to request.

For example, you can send them a request on LinkedIn and drop them an email.

After you establish contact, find a common topic of interest and exchange useful information over email or text at least once a month. While doing so, ensure that you don’t spam them and intrude into their private space.

Always acknowledge e-mails of important people. This helps you build ‘recall’ value for your next meeting.

Pursue a hobby

A common excuse we give ourselves for not doing anything is 'lack of time'.

When was the last time you did something you love and felt happy about it?

Pick up that guitar you always wanted to learn or brush up your photography skills over the weekend. Or simply just pack your bags and trek to a new place with your friends.

Spend your weekend doing something that will rejuvenate you.

Pursuing a hobby that interests you will help you unwind and perhaps gift you with renewed energy.

When you resume work on Monday, you feel positively charged and chances are you will have a different perspective of dealing with your work.

Find a mentor

Find a person who inspires you and connect with them.

Follow their work, seek advice and perhaps request them to review your performance and guide you the way forward.

A mentor may not necessarily be someone from the same domain as you are, but could be anyone who is successful in his/her field and has considerable work and life experience.

Photograph: Sean Dreilinger/Creative Commons