I often hear from employees who feel stuck in their job and don’t know what their next move should be. They become dissatisfied, don’t feel challenged, or aren’t getting the promotions and salary increases they feel they deserve. In fact, a report by Right Management confirms that only 19% of employees are satisfied with their jobs. In order to understand what it takes to stand out and get ahead at work, I partnered with American Express on a new workplace success study. The short version of what we found? If you want to get unstuck, you need to take the initiative. Here are six things you can — and should — do to stand out, build a strong reputation and advance at work: Become an entrepreneur at work. Our study found that 58% of managers are either very willing or extremely willing to support entrepreneurial employees. What does that mean? If you want to get ahead, you need to take on projects outside of your job description. If you see a new opportunity that your company could take advantage of, or you see something that can be improved, come up with a solution. Do research, develop a presentation outlining the opportunity, and present it to your management. Before you engage in any entrepreneurial initiatives, of course, you have to master your current role and prove yourself — because no one will invest in you unless they trust you first. Engage in activities outside of the office. Everyone knows there is no nine to five workday anymore, but working outside the office doesn’t just mean keeping an eye on your smartphone. Extra outside projects and roles and learning opportunities can enhance their reputation at work. And we found that 63% of managers are very willing or extremely willing to support an employee’s professional related activities outside of the office. You can, for example, join professional organizations and social groups to expand both your network and knowledge of your industry and profession. Find volunteer opportunities on Volunteermatch.org; a list of associations you![]()
