How can you quickly move up from dead-end and low-status positions? Find out what unexpected opportunities these jobs offer, and why you should not quit… just yet.
I bet you strive for a career with a quicker promotion and better pay. But what if you get stuck at an entry- or mid-level job without any visible path and no development opportunities? You know, those dead-end and no-status positions that apparently don’t contribute much to the core business of your company?
If the gap between where you want to be and where you are now seem huge, maybe it’s time to take a second look at what you have and find your treasure right there. The thing is, career success does not depend on what position you start with; it depends on what skills you learn at any job and how fast you learn them. There are no “dead-end” jobs, period. Bear with me – and if you are still not convinced after reading this post, feel free to prove me wrong.
Time and again, I’ve seen how the so-called “dead-end” employees turn their most mundane and boring job duties into bulletproof promotion opportunities (and did it myself, too). To seize new opportunities, make the best of what is available, and learn new skills to step up the ladder.
Here are just a few options to explore:
Business processes and workflows
Let’s be honest: most dead-end workers just want to get their job done and go home, because their work is boring and low-paid. As a result, there is not much engagement or initiative on their part. But until an employee actually adds noticeable value to the business, he or she is not likely to be promoted to a higher-paid position. See the vicious circle here? So, what do we do?
The way out of this trap is through learning how your work contributes to the success of your department or entire company – and capitalize on it. Take a close look at how requests and work assignments get to you. How do you handle them, and what happens next? Who is responsible for the process, and how long does it take to complete a task? Who do you submit the results to? What are the typical issues that arise in the process, and why do they arise? Then see if you can make suggestions on how to improve the process to minimize the problems. Learn basic business processes methods and software (they are available online for free), discuss them with your boss, and apply them to your job. I promise, she will take notice.
Communication with “difficult” people
Chances are, you are interacting with other coworkers, contractors, visitors, or customers. If you are a people person, prioritize these conversations and use every encounter (a customer request, Zoom meeting, or visit) as a training opportunity to master your communication skills. Set specific goals for the most important interactions you engage in (i.e., to build rapport, convince, sell, retain a client, etc.) and try out new ways and techniques (look up communication tips). See what’s already working well for you as well as for the areas to improve.
Master the skills until you feel comfortable while paying special attention to “difficult” people and customers. The sad truth is that everyone else is dreading dealing with them, and most of your coworkers will do anything to avoid or minimize contact. Excellent, let them! And use their reluctance as a great opportunity to stand out. Instead of avoiding difficult people, shadow more successful employees working with such people, and learn from the best. Make sure you become one of those “go-to” sources who can negotiate solutions for the most difficult disagreements or complaints. If you get the reputation of a great communicator, the management will breathe a sigh of relief. And – booms! – your value in their eyes will skyrocket.
Organizational skills and time-management
Most dead-end employees don’t take their daily (read: boring) duties too seriously because their managers don’t do it, either. So, they keep making the same “little” mistakes over and over again: delay a delivery, forget to make calls, omit non-critical data, etc.
Instead of doing the same, turn your workstation into a super-hero machine and get all the credit for the reliability and trustworthiness you will earn as a result. Start with decluttering your workplace and keeping it clean and functional (organize paperwork, equipment, or tools so that you always know where to find them). You will be amazed to learn how often this easy fix is missed by your colleagues – and how it will boost your productivity.
Then master time-management: learn to break assignments down into smaller action steps, write to-do lists, use a timer, combine similar tasks, correct mistakes right away, and so on. The sooner your boss finds out how good you are at organizing your work, the sooner he’ll want to promote you to organize the work of others.
Corporate information systems and software
While I don’t suggest that you shift to an IT role (unless, of course, that’s what you want to do), keep in mind that every company utilizes some kind of (rather sophisticated) software for accounting, personnel, CRM, inventory processing, etc. And – here lays your opportunity – most of your coworkers have a very limited idea of its full capabilities and functionality. Usually, a typical employee only knows how to do a certain set of operations with the data related to her immediate duties, and that’s it.
If you enjoy working with systems, take advantage by mastering as many modules and applications of the software as you can get access to. For each application, find out what most users struggle with, what the typical bugs are, and focus on fixing or preventing them. Volunteer to temporarily assist a coworker who is planning a vacation, or help your boss when he is overwhelmed. Find and watch educational videos on YouTube, for free. Learn the system very well – and then let your supervisor and colleagues know about it. Remember that Matt guy who fixes system bugs for everyone? Now you become that guy! The technical skills you’ll acquire will help you increase visibility within your team. And with visibility, comes success.
To sum it up, don’t rush into quitting your “dead-end” job until you take away every bit of the most valuable experience it offers. Because every job can be turned into a better opportunity if you give it a chance and shift your perspective.