Everyone wants to be the best, most brilliant version of themselves. They want to look their best, have a great friend group, feel confident, and go as far in their careers as possible. While many factors come down to the individual (it’s up to you whether you go to the gym or not), sometimes you’re relying on other people, as in the case of your career.

You’ll want to progress, but it’s not up to you! The best you can do is to do all the things that’ll lead to an increased likelihood of advancement. But what are they? Below, we take a look at a few key factors that can impact your career.

How Indispensable You Are 

The best way to advance in your career is to make yourself indispensable to your company. If you’re a key employee that plays a fundamental role in the company’s success, then they’re not going to run the risk of letting you go.

They’ll know how important you are when it comes to everything running smoothly. Indeed, if you’re a key member of staff, then promotion won’t be something that you’ll need to beg for — it’ll become obvious that you’re the right person for the job. So yes, it’s just true that there is no substitute for hard work!

Your Level of Education

There are some people that tell you that it’s not what you know, but who you know. But actually, this isn’t really true. Studies have shown that people with a higher level of education usually end up in the more advanced, better-paying jobs.

You’ll have more career options if you have a master’s degree than if you just have a bachelor’s degree, for example. If you’ve found that you’ve plateaued in your career, then consider returning to formal education, and studying for a master’s degree. You’ll find that many more doors are open to you once you have it under your belt.

Your Commitment

You don’t get anything in this world for free, or without working hard for it. The people that reach the more senior positions are usually the ones who didn’t accept any less — they were super committed to furthering their career. There’s just only so far you can go if you’re the only kind of interested in your chosen profession!

If this is the case, then it might be worthwhile looking to see if there’s another career to which you would be better suited. There’ll be times when you’ll have to choose work over other things, such as socializing, for instance, and if you don’t want to do that in your current job, then look for something else.

Your Communication Skills

No-one gets too far in life with their mouth shut. At some stage or another, it’ll be your communication skills that come to the fore, and which help you get ahead. It’s not hard to see the many ways that having this skill in your locker could help.

For starters, communication skills just make you better at your job. They can also lead to strong leadership skills, which are essential for working in more senior positions. Finally, let’s not forget about networking. There’ll be plenty of other people that will help you on the way to reaching your full potential in your career, but they’ll only be able to help you if you’ve made the connection. 

Showing Yourself as an Expert 

If you’re going to go as far as you can possibly go, then you’ll need the world to know just what you’re made of. While you can do this by delivering your best work for your company, it’s also recommended that you look at developing your personal brand, too.

This will make it more likely for you to be approached by other companies, and can also give you a good head start if you’re thinking about going your own way and starting your own business. There are many ways to show the world that you’re an expert in your field. You can use social media platforms to share your expert opinions or write blogs and columns for your industry’s leading publications. 

The Company You Work For

You might love your job; you might love your coworkers, you might love more or less everything about your work. And yet, it might still be the wrong position for you. If you’re going to go as far as possible in the business world, then you’ll need to work for a company that offers advancement opportunities. If your current job doesn’t offer any routes towards promotion, then it might be time to begin looking for a new company. You may not want to do it, but it’ll be the right decision to make in the long term.

Willingness to Move 

It’s not just about the companies that you work for, either. You’ll also need to look at yourself, and see how open you are to taking risks in order to move your career forward. While the best scenario would be for your current company to offer a path upwards, this won’t always be the case. Then, it’ll be the courage you have to step off the edge of the cliff and try something new. Knowing when to jump can, in fact, be the most important decision that you make relating to your career! 

No Settling 

It’s also important that you have self-worth, and understand just what kind of positions you should be aiming for. Sometimes, it’s easier to settle for the security of a stable position. Don’t let your standards slip — keep your eye on the prize, and you’ll always be willing to carry on pushing forward.

Your Energy Levels 

Finally, be sure to keep your energy levels in check! If you’re going to go as far as possible, then you’ll need to be at your physical and mental best. So get your work/life balance in check, get enough exercise, and be sure to eat and drink healthily. You’ll only run the risk of suffering from burnout if you don’t!