7 tips for success in a corporate career

And why it’s not always the most capable or hardest working people who do well in a company.....

1) Find yourself a sponsor

Finding a good sponsor can transform your career as they can create opportunities for you from their success.

How do you know who to line up with as a sponsor?..... If your gut tells you “this guy is good” he or she probably is.

And how do you get to know them?.....Network - if the sponsor is going out with a group for a drink or event after work, stop what you are doing and make sure you are there.

2) It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it

These days, doing something quietly, confidently and well doesn’t always get rewarded. It’s much more about your visibility.

Be positive and make sure people know who you are and what you are doing - talk up how well things are going and give credit to your boss.

The way you market yourself can be as (or more!) important than what you actually do.

3) Define your niche

Most people like to categorise other people into “boxes”. Companies are no different. If you work in several sectors or functions you could look “lightweight” against people who have stayed in one area.

Have a career plan and avoid roles which don’t support that plan...

Or build a skills-based career where broader experience is valued e.g. Consulting or Interim work. You’ll have more flexibility if a sector or function is in decline.

4) Don’t stay too long

A new job can feel very rewarding. After a while, you settle in and typically, this is the most productive phase of your job.

But things can get too comfortable – That’s the time to think about moving on.

It’s hard to be promoted in middle management as there is so much competition. It’s often better to jump ship rather than join the internal queue. See point 3 above though.

5) If you’re not sure – don’t say anything

We’ve all done it. Whether it’s over enthusiasm, work pressure or a misjudgement. It’s very easy to say something on the spur of the moment that you regret later.

In your early career, you want to make an impact but it’s also a time when your knowledge is likely to be less than those around you.

If there is something you want to say, think about arranging a follow-up conversation or engineer a discussion at the coffee machine to make your point.  

6) Be positive

It’s a cultural thing. Ask an American or an Aussie how they are and the answer will always be “great”. Ask a Brit or a Finn and you are likely to get a tale of woe.

People don’t want to hear bad news as it makes them nervous and labels you as negative. Use humour (The Irish are brilliant at this). That said, you have to say how things are.

...If you are responsible for something and there are problems (aka “challenges”) and you don’t tell stakeholders, you will be deservedly shot!

7) When you leave, don’t let rip

Getting a new job can be one of the best moments in life – so can leaving one! If you’ve had a tough time and you’re moving on, it’s very tempting to say exactly what you think about a company or the people in it. Don’t!

It is more than likely that you (or someone in your network) will work with these people again at some time in your career.

If you really want to have your say, post it anonymously.

Or use Glassdoor to find out about a company before joining so you avoid the companies you really wouldn’t want to work for.