I was talking a lot on this topic with my friends, colleagues and all people I met last few days… We made some conclusions based on our experiences and I am sharing them with you, because I am sure it could be very useful for your career. 

Whether your goals are raise, the better position at work or simply want your expertise to be recognized, focus on advices below.

First of all, be diligent and collegial, and success at work will not be absent.

1. Work with passion
If you really love what you do, you’ll never look at your business as a way to earn money to pay bills. Passion is a driving force in life. Use it for the job too. If you don’t like your job, don’t read anything after this… or, find the job what you love and continue with reading.  

2. Learn
It is important to educate and gain knowledge in the field that you intend to do. Diploma will greatly facilitate the path to success, because you skipped a few steps to prove yourself and convince other people about your skills and knowledge. Diploma makes it easy, but it’s not crucial for success!

3. BE sensitive
Nobody knows everything, so do not be too arrogant. Be compassionate to the people in the business too. Everyone has the right on the weak moments that can sometimes reflect on the job. You know those moments very good…

4. Without obstacles to success
If you don’t know something, pretend that everything is clear to you. Nodding with your head will be enough (don’t even think to talk about something what you don’t know!!!) Subsequently inform yourself about that. Don’t show that you are not willing to learn … There are no obstacles for you!

5. Dedication
You do not need to be in the “marriage” with your job, you have the right to private life and friends, but the time you spend in the office should be dedicated to work. No telephone too often. You will need time after that to “return” to work. Ask your friends not to call you in office for a “little chat”…

6. Compete
Try to be among the best in your business. This does not mean “best of all, but just try, watch your colleagues, their activities and values. Create some kind of sketch of your work environment and be at the top.

7. Do not even think about FAILURE
Never think what will happen if you lose a job … It leads to failure, your anxiety and spending your energy on something that is not your real life situations. Do not make backup plans. So you’ll be forced to succeed, because you do not have “plan B”  

8. Offer solutions

You always have to go to your boss with your suggestions about the solutions, not with problems. If you come to your boss and start to talk about problem only, that means that you ask him for solution. Not good. He expects solution from you, because of that he is paying you! So, first locate the problem, think about solutions and then go to your boss.
  
9. Negotiate about your raise
The possibility that boss calls you in his/her office and informs you that you get a raise is zero! You have to do something about that. It is not easy and first you need to improve your negotiating skills.
Before you start negotiations about your raise, prepare good arguments which will be based on your requirements. If you were diligent, loyal and cooperative, if you run the new projects and actions, you’ll have a better negotiating position. 

So, think about those advices and if you have more (from your personal experience), don’t hesitate to share them with us.