Things to Do For Your Career Today Your Future Self Will Thank You For

You've just started out in your career, and you're looking to move your way up the career ladder. While you don't have to have everything figured out, here are some things to invest in for your growth that will definitely pay off in the long run.

1. Invest in Yourself

You are accountable for your own success. Make use of resources available to you - be it free online classes or paid specialised training sessions - to increase your knowledge and up your game in what you do. Ongoing learning is essential for every professional's success, so make it your top priority to never stop investing in your own growth.

2. Keep Engaged in the Right Relationships

Identify your circle of influence - who inspires you to be better, who are capable of guiding your career the right way. Form a professional network of these people, and spend time learning from them. It's also important to stay in touch with people, like your old colleagues or school mates. Often, these people can help you out immensely in your new job, be it as mentors, clients, or just great advisors. By maintaining a reasonable amount of contact with these people in your life, it may pay off handsomely for you in the future.

3. Take Risks

At this point in your life, you have relatively few responsibilities and obligations. If there is something you wish to do, go for it. If we never took risks, we would never expose ourselves to the potential of great experiences. The possibilities are endless, once you take that first step. Moving cities for a new role could mean exciting new adventures; going for a promotion may mean greater challenges and rewards; joining a new company could offer a positive new work culture and colleagues - the list goes on.

4. Work Abroad

Working overseas can be a great education when you're just starting out. Exposure to different working environments and cultures means expanding your worldview and allowing yourself to see things from new perspectives. International experience can really give you the competitive edge when you decide to work in a multinational firm or with an international business further on in your career.

5. Develop Balance

There is a tendency to burn the midnight oil in your twenties as everyone is working hard for their careers. Remember to give your inner workaholic a break sometimes, before you burn out! There is more to life than just work, so take good care of yourself. Learn the importance of moderation, and you'll thank yourself later.

When you're just starting out in your career, trying to figure out which way to go can get confusing and overwhelming. However, with these deliberate and strategic choices, these investments may very well get you far ahead in your career in the long run.