Considerations for Millennial Ascension

“Although There Is No Movement, There Is Still Action!”

We see ascension as the act of rising to a higher and more important position. Technically the adjective rising is an action. If one aspires to ascend, although they may not be in the act of moving transitioning jobs or careers, they can prepare themselves for the next position in a plethora of ways. For example, continuing education and training, gaining access to a related professional network, and identifying a mentor are phenomenal ways to move up and advance your career professionally. More importantly, all the examples don’t require you to make a major change but will put you in space mentally and professionally for advancement.

• Build Your Credentials: Employers, both current and future, often would like to see professionals in the field seek opportunities to develop themselves and others beyond the view of their job description and bullet point duties listed on their employee work performance form. If you feel your job or supervisor limits your impact, then seek out related opportunities within your field with other organizations that will not jeopardize your current standing within your job. For example, one can see out membership and volunteer opportunities with an association or non-profit connected to their line of work. It’s also common for people in these groups to seek chairperson, executive, and leadership roles within these external organizations which not only looks good on your resume, but it holistically rounds out your experiences with internal and external experiences.

When reviewing your network, one should assess their connection to people within their current work environment, professionals in other organizations, and well-known leaders within the field. Majority of your leaders are connected to others in the field. As a result, sometimes people will follow up with former members of your teams to check references or see what others say about your work ethic and character. Therefore, the old age rule that goes “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” still bares merit. If you aren’t connected, find a way to strategically connect with these individuals. In our social and technology driven society, people often hire individuals based on a combination of referrals and who they are connected to from former or current organizations. Thus, one should also connect with individual via social media platforms. These platforms can be pivotal in landing your next position. In our social and technology driven society, performing well at your job is simply not enough. Others must also witness your great advances and progress within the field. Documentation just an important as completing job functions. One must be a show horse and a work horse in the field to receive proper acknowledgement and recognition from their peers and colleagues.