How to Succeed at any Career

Woody Allen once said, “80% of success is just showing up.”

While there’s definitely some truth to that – in practice, success requires a bit more effort than just showing up – especially if you want to succeed at your career.

Employers are constantly looking for the right signs to qualify you as promotion-worthy material. You just need to show them you are qualified. Remember, it’s not a matter of what you did or said during the interview process – what matters is what you do consistently every day.

So how can you start moving up the corporate ladder? Here are some helpful hints to get you started:

Build Relationships:Sometimes it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. It’s a good idea to foster positive relationships with your co-workers as well as your superiors. When it comes time for a promotion or a recommendation, you’ll be glad you built a network of alliances to fall back on. You can never have too many friends to speak in good favor for you. Many professionals try to “edge out” other people for promotions or to be in good favor from the boss. Don’t play that game – perform whatever function you do as an executive would – help others shine, compliment people to others, and help other people network.

Be Professional: Everything from your workplace demeanor to your Facebook page might be scrutinized at some point by your current or future employers. Try to keep a low profile when it comes to your personal life, and always maintain an air of professionalism. Not only will you be taken more seriously, you’ll be remembered as a rising star when opportunities arrive. In the eyes of your boss, your reputation is a reflection of things to come. If you have a sullied reputation at work or you were too personal in the past, consider changing jobs. It’s difficult to change your employer’s perception of your core personality – you might be better off with a clean slate.

Show You Care:If you find yourself constantly watching the clock, just waiting to rush home – then you’re in the wrong job or there’s a problem with your work ethic. No one likes working all the time, but you should take some pride and satisfaction from your work. This attitude will help you work more efficiently and effectively. At the same time, its a good idea to push the envelope once in a while – to stay late or come in early – anything that shows you’re a cut above the rest. The main point here is not to “brown-nose” by showing up early, but rather to examine your own intention and motivations on a daily basis. If you don’t want to go above and beyond, if you don’t want to put in more than your fair share, you might be better off in a different career. To truly succeed and go far in any profession, it has to be the right one for you – the one you want to put effort into.

Keep these career tips in mind as you go about your day-to-day business and you’ll start turning heads. Performance and behavior can be altered whenever you choose; it’s never too late. Your career is more than your livelihood – it’s your best link to a promising future. Why not get ahead today?