Taking your career up and beyond

Career progression is important to all Singaporean professionals as it offers them the opportunity to develop their skills and broaden their experience. You can achieve this through an internal promotion with your current employer or by seeking external job opportunities.

Explore options in your workplace
If you are happy in your workplace and want to progress your career with your current employer, it is important to help your manager understand that you want to take the next step in your career.

Ask them how you can take on more responsibility within or outside your own team in order to broaden your experience.

Build a strong relationship with a senior colleague that can act as a referee when you apply for a new position. In addition to strong technical competence be reliable, professional, proactive, creative, visible and dedicated so that you can be top of mind when new opportunities arise within your team or company.

Put together a plan to map out a strategy that will help you get your next job. Have realistic goals for when and how you can develop your skills and opportunities for networking.

Research potential jobs that you would like to take and find information on issues and trends in that industry. You will be able to confidently seize opportunities that align with the goals in your career path.

Investigate external opportunities
If your current environment cannot support your career goals you can seek opportunities externally. Start job hunting through online services to receive relevant jobs via email as soon as they are available.

Search the internet for professional job boards that post positions that are currently available. Scan newspapers and trade media for any other advertised vacancies.

To be considered a potential candidate for the position that you want, fill any skills gaps with training and updating your industry knowledge by talking to industry experts or conducting online research for a better understanding of any technical or professional skills that you will need.

Employers also look for transferable skills and this includes effective communication, leadership, research, creativity, teamwork and self-managementskills.

As well as acquiring the correct skills for the next step in your career, your network of contacts is one of the most useful career development tools you have. Make the effort to attend professional association meetings, events and conferences.

Andrew Norton, Regional Managing Director, Michael Page International