How to Level Up Your Career in today's climate

So you landed your first job? Read this post on how to level up quickly in your career

Level Up Your Presentation

You might have heard the phrase, "Dress for the job you want and not the job you are in". Nowadays most companies have moved from previously formal dress codes to more smart casual dress. - see straight jeans with a formal shirt or blouse.

This fortunately means you won't need to splurge your first salary on suits that you will only wear once a week. It also allows you to multipurpose your clothes and provides you with more flexibility to switch between casual and smart wear. This is an opportunity to build your own style and present yourself in the way that aligns to your personal goals.

Internships count as experience

Your internships count as experience, whether it be event planning or office support. Each job or task provides key experience that will come in handy in your future career. Therefore list all experience in your resume AND during your interview be sure to highlight the different skills you learnt as a result of your internsip. For more info on how to write an impactful resume - see this post.

Job hop early - quicker rise in salary

Job-hopping helps you get exposure to multiple companies in a short space of time and the different ways of doing things. This will help you to figure out what the right fit is for you in terms of culture, size and role. A bigger benefit of job-hopping is a quicker rise in salary which will help you to level up. Companies are more likely to give new hires the salary they demand than give increases to existing employees.

Have a side hustle

Whilst you are starting out and getting a feel for the right company and role for you. It is worth learning an added skill to help support you and provide you with flexibility to choose the right role. Not just because you are looking to get paid. The added cushion of a side hustle is a sure fire way to level and up your career skills and will come in handy when you are completing your internship at your low-paying-but-prestiguous internship or when it is time to leave a high-paying but toxic job on short notice.

Network

Know the difference between paying dues and abuse and exploitation.

"Not every closed door is locked"

Anonymous