5 guiding principles to building a successful career
The path to a successful engineering career starts with a degree and subsequently an engineering job, but it doesn’t end there. After you’ve obtained your first job it’s up to you, to own your career growth. To succeed and create an extraordinary career, you must make decisions and take certain steps to continually develop and learn new skills. Read on to find out more about the 5 basic principles that can increase the chances of career success.
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The 5 principles of success are:
1# Knowing your WHY
Many people (engineers included) don’t take the time to think about their own definition of success. When you don’t understand your WHY, you lack that deeper reason for wanting something, and it is hard to sustain the motivation to pursue it. The research of Dr. Amy Wrzesniewski on the construct of career orientation has shown that the higher the level of identity you have with the work you do the greater will be your level of success and wellbeing. So understanding your WHY and then setting goals aligned to that purpose will help you progress in your career and sustain that engagement with your career long-term.
2# Developing your Personal Brand
You are your own brand. Everything you do signals your values, your goals, and your skills to the world. To have a great career, you need to bring the best version of yourself to work every day. You might not realise it but you have a brand right now and that brand influences what others think of you and it is influencing your career advancement. You should clarify and establish your personal brand, and understand within yourself what you want to be known for, and then communicate that brand to the world; online and in-person.
3# Using your Networking Skills
Yes, networking isn’t at the top of everyone’s to-do list. However, there’s no denying the power a strong professional network can have over your career success. When it’s done well, networking will not only help you land a job faster, but it will give you a competitive edge throughout every stage of your career. It’s important to consider that networking isn’t simply a cocktail event, it involves forming relationships with those in your industry, which can benefit both people’s careers long into the future.
4# Becoming a Mentor
A ‘successful? mentor-mentee relationship will look different depending on each pair. You may be older or younger than your mentoring partner. You may be more experienced or less experienced in your field overall. In every case mentoring is about supporting others through advice and help. It’s also a way of investing in the future ? perhaps it’s your future career or the career of someone else. As a mentee, finding the right mentor in your engineering career can accelerate your advancement. As a mentor the personal satisfaction of helping another, and the opportunity to learn from fresh perspectives will strengthen your personal and professional abilities.
5# Having a Learning Mindset
People with a learning mindset know that there is always more to learn. They seek input from others, try different strategies, and gain insights from their mistakes. They use feedback and mistakes as opportunities to improve while enjoying the process of learning and becoming more productive. Developing learning mindsets in relation to our careers is critical to thrive in today’s evolving work environment. Those with a learning mindset are likely to see changes in their work, work environment and career as an opportunity for growth even if it’s stressful or challenging.