Arizona Tribune - Northwestern Mutual: Climbing the Corporate Ladder: The Role of Experience in Career Advancement

Employers often use applicants' work history to determine their eligibility for a new role and compensation. However, professional experience has a value that goes beyond those concrete benefits. Understanding the value of diverse work experience could help people seize opportunities at all stages of their careers.

How to develop experience

Of course, most people don't have extensive experience when they enter the workforce. However, individuals looking to move up the ladder in their careers could take a few different avenues to help build their knowledge. Below are a few examples.

Certifications

Earning certifications can give individuals with formal recognition of the specialized skills and knowledge they may need in a particular field. For example, IT professionals might pursue cybersecurity or cloud computing certifications, while project managers may seek a PMP (Project Management Professional) certification. Similarly, financial professionals looking to advise clients on term life insurance or other financial products could pursue relevant certifications to enhance their expertise.

Earning a certification not only validates an individual's expertise but may also lead to higher earning potential and new career opportunities.

Volunteering

Paid work isn't the only way to gain experience. Volunteering can be equally valuable. Non-profit organizations could almost always use extra hands for all types of labor, like preparing meals, working with patients or clients, or performing administrative tasks. These roles show prospective employers that a person has leadership skills, passion, and a strong work ethic.

Some volunteer positions may translate more directly to a desired role or industry. For example, someone who wants to become a veterinarian may volunteer at an animal shelter to build experience working with different types of animals.

Networking

Networking is a great way for individuals to make connections and learn more about opportunities for advancement within their field. Building and nurturing relationships with colleagues, mentors, and industry leaders could help open doors to new opportunities and job referrals. Additionally, networking can help individuals get advice on navigating career challenges from others with real experience from their own career journeys. A few ways to network include:

• Attending industry events

• Joining professional associations

• Participating in online forums

• Joining social media groups dedicated to a specific field of work

Embracing different types of work

Each role imparts new skills and lessons that could be applied to various work experiences. Some careers advance straightforwardly. A person may move up from an entry-level role to a managerial one and continue receiving promotions until they achieve their goals. However, the path isn't always so direct for everyone.

Many people end up with diverse jobs, from waiting tables to providing tech support. Work experience across industries and roles builds a well-rounded skillset and fosters a unique perspective. Employers often value employees whose backgrounds lead to unexpected insights. For example, someone who previously worked in real estate may be uniquely qualified to help a customer find the best life insurance policy for protecting their home.

Leveraging experience to keep moving up

Work experience isn't always enough to move up on its own. To climb to the next rung on the professional ladder, job seekers have to show how their history has strengthened their abilities and sharpened their insights. That means reflecting carefully on the professional journey so far, identifying weaknesses, and, most importantly, celebrating growth.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance
Company (NM) and its subsidiaries in Milwaukee, WI.

Contact: Don Klein, 1-800-323-7033

SOURCE: Northwestern Mutual

Ch.P.Lewis--AT