Regardless of how much experience you have, there are many ways to climb (and often fast track) your way up the career ladder. Here are some tips on how you can stand out from the crowd and ensure you’re always top-of-mind for promotions and advancement.
- Never Stop Learning – It’s one thing to take part in employer-driven continued education & learning programs, but candidates who seek out their own learning opportunities send the right message to management. A candidate who takes initiative to further develop or enhance their skills on their own accord (and often at their own cost) lets management know that they take their career seriously and are always looking to do better.
- Treat Everyone with Respect – There’s a famous rule saying by Dave Barry called the “Waiter Rule”:
A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter, or to others, is not a nice person. Watch out for people who have a situational value system, who can turn the charm on and off depending on the status of the person they are interacting with. Be especially wary of those who are rude to people perceived to be in subordinate roles.
Many employees will put their best foot forward around their supervisor or manager, but people who treat everyone (including their colleagues, customers, and those who work under them) with the highest level of care and professionalism quickly stand out from the crowd.
- Take Initiative – Even if you work for a large organization with many locations in the building supply industry, don’t underestimate the power of sharing your opinion and looking at things from a different angle. Offer positive suggestions on how things can be improved, and be willing to action those suggestions. If you have the opportunity to implement a change for the greater good, management will absolutely take note.
- Swallow the Frog – This is a productivity saying that dates back decades, which translates to don’t be afraid to do the difficult things. A great way to set yourself apart from others is to take the initiative to do some of the least desirable tasks. By doing this you’re letting your superior / manager know that you are there for the greater good of the organization, your colleagues, and customers. You’ll be walking the talk and demonstrating that you are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.
- Connect with a Mentor – Find someone who has been where you are, whether that’s a boss, teacher, or just someone you look up to. Having a mentor can help you develop a game plan for your career that highlights your strengths and unique qualities. You don’t need to spend an unreasonable amount of time with them for you both to benefit — even 1-2 conversations a month can make a huge difference.
We hope these tips are helpful as you work towards advancing to the top of your field. There are countless opportunities for employment and advancement in the building supply industry — be sure and check out our current job openings in Canada by clicking here.
Upwards and onwards!