How can you fast track your career?

Business Relationships Personal Development Training & Certification

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Vice President Strategy ( Engineering and Digital) in Software, 1,001 - 5,000 employees

Regardless of what stage you’re in, anyone working in a corporation needs to understand that a career is not only about getting the first job. And it is not about how much time you spend. What matters most is how you convert that time into real experience.

When people reach the second half of their career, they may aspire to be VP or C-Suite, and that is the most challenging part. They are often unable to achieve that success because of mistakes made in the first half of their career. In the first five or 10 years, for example, you should focus on learning, not earning. When someone has the top position, it’s because they have done something different from their colleagues. They recognize that the most important and valuable asset they have is their learning ability. You have to continuously upgrade your knowledge. If you don’t, you will not be able to succeed in this competitive market. It’s all about how you invest your time and money. Both can either be spent or invested. Time and money spent can never be recuperated, but when they are invested you will get a return. To fast track your career in a sustainable way, you should invest at least some percentage of your income on upgrading your knowledge.

The most successful people in any field view themselves as self-employed, regardless of the organization. The employee mindset is different. Even if you are not the owner of the company, if you work as though you are, your work will be more effective. So you have to lose the employee mindset, which is not easy in the early stages of your career. You also need to know exactly what you want. If you want to become the CEO of a company, that clarity has to be there. And then you have to figure out how much you are willing to pay to achieve that goal: Are you willing to create goals around that?

Senior Director, Information Technology in Services (non-Government), 501 - 1,000 employees

I'm not sure I would trust someone who made it obvious they were looking for a "fast track" to career growth. There are no shortcuts - spend your time learning and being humble. Career growth will happen as quickly as possible when you show that you're someone who can be depended on and is constantly improving your own skills, all the while applying what you learn to improve your role and for the benefit of your team.

Assistant Director IT Auditor in Education, 10,001+ employees

What I have done is take on the difficult tasks and do it very well. I have tried to make sure my boss looks good and satisfied with the results. I also build sound and honest relationships with colleagues and customers.

VP of IT in Software, 5,001 - 10,000 employees

Work hard. Be a team player. Contribute and learn with every product and project that you work. Be a continuous learner and be very curious. And be humble. Also, play the long game with every decision that you make.

Director of IT in Software, 10,001+ employees

ensuring that you are involved in projects that you can “hang your hat on” is critical. To get assigned to these types of projects though, you must showcase your skills, your desire for continuous learning, and your ability to work together as a team. Truly understanding your own long term goals is critical; once you understand these, it is important to have the conversations with your manager who can assist you in setting up the stepping stones to get you there.

Secure Facilities Information Technology Manager in Manufacturing, Self-employed

The opportunity to fast track your career is more about placing yourself within the correct arena to seize those moments. It can be a very small action or accolade that leads to this type of opportunity. Not every advancement comes from the expected heavy lifting of a task. It could be that someone who can offer that opportunity takes a liking to you, and it could be just that .

Director of IT in Education, 1,001 - 5,000 employees

After 30 years on the job, it may seem counterintuitive, but, be eagerly patient. Listen, observe others, use your intuition, for when to speak up, speak out or for when to not speak at all. Put in the hours and effort, but not so much you forget to take care of YOU; an empty tank won't get you but so far! At the end of the day, integrity matters...

IT Strategist in Government, 1,001 - 5,000 employees

Career development is very different in every organization, it is also quite different from industry to industry. However, most of the people whom I observed "fast tracking" their career possessed and demonstrated the same qualities:
- align yourself with current goals and objectives of the organization (i.e. only spend time where it matters the most);
- focus on future and transformation (i.e. past matters, but future matters the most);
- always seek opportunities to show leadership (i.e. stand out from the crowd and be memorable).

As you may notice, technical skills and education are not the most important qualities in this regard.

Director of Enterprise Technology Advisory in Software, 10,001+ employees

Focus on the success of your team. Be clear on where you want to go, but be open to opportunities which may not be exactly what you thought may be the next step. Never stop learning.

Director of IT in Manufacturing, 5,001 - 10,000 employees

I enhance my competency with hard skill training, webinar & conduct project/consultation project