Many people start out on their career journey at the age of 22 right out of college. And with the average retirement age at 65 what a long journey it will be. Most of us start out to just find a job that will allow us to become independent. At some point down the line something clicks and we come to the realization that what we really desire is a meaningful and promising career with all the rewards to match. Unfortunately obtaining this promising career takes more than just desire. We actually have to navigate this road often asking the question of which way to turn next. While the road along this journey may be rocky and a bit scary, making the conscious decision to strive for excellence is a good place to start. With that being said there are a few keys to achieving career excellence.

Have a vision

Don’t make it hard on yourself have a vision of where you want to go and find out the steps it takes to get there. If you want to run your department one day, you’ll want to know what roles or special projects you need under your belt that will qualify you for the position. A good resource for this is to build relationships with your peers who can help define those necessary steps. Your company’s training and development director can also be a great resource. On the road to excellence you have to take the pivotal jobs and not be intimidated by the time it takes to go through the each role and make your mark.

Go the Extra Mile

Start by striving for excellence and then go the extra mile. Do what others won’t do and set goals that others might consider hard to reach. Show your initiative by sizing up the situation, anticipating what needs to be done and then move forward to do it without being asked. This is a sure way to get noticed. You’ll see those coveted projects and tasks start to come your way making your career path easier to navigate.

Find a Mentor

Be open to finding a mentor within your organization that can share a different perspective on navigating the corporate culture. It’s always good to have a coach on the inside that can groom you for the next level. This individual should be someone in a leadership position preferably within your department however someone in another department or even a different company can be just as valuable. If you can’t find someone to agree to a mentor/mentee relationship find individuals in leadership that might be open to an informational interview which could lead to a formal or informal mentoring relationship. Most leaders love the idea of having a protege.

Navigating the road to career excellence doesn’t have to be a rocky one if you start out with a clear vision of where the road should lead. With a well defined plan, proper guidance and mindset to strive for excellence, each role, project or task along the path will bear fruit. Happy travels along the road to career excellence.

Maurisa Westbury is Chief Training Strategist for OnlineTraining2Go an e-learning solutions company specializing in providing computer based training via the Internet for individuals, small to medium sized businesses and the association market. OnlineTraining2Go offers an extensive catalog with over 2500 topics. The company also offers career coaching, FREE teleseminars and webinars related to career development and personal growth. If you’re ready to reinvent yourself, get noticed and move to the next level in your career get your FREE report on career advancement and success now HERE