5 Secrets to Career Success in 2015

5 Secrets to Career Success in 20155 Secrets to Career Success in 2015In a recent surveyof millennials and hiring managerscommissioned byElance-oDeskand Millennial Branding,Jaleh Bisharat, Elance-oDesk senior vice president of marketing, and Dan Schawbel, Millennial Branding managing partner, showcase how professionals can thrive as millennials tip the scales as the largest workforce generation next year. Bisharat and Schawbel offered the following analysis and suggestions for succeeding in the workforce1. Focus on hard skills.A majority of hiring managers (55 percent) revealed they prioritize hard skills over personality (21%) when hiring,Bisharat bedrngnises.With the rapidly changing tech landscape and a persisting skills gap, it is more important than ever for businesses to find people with the specific skills they need to deliver results. Employers will appreciate your efforts. Whether youre a millennial or a more seasoned professional, theres no excuse not to keep up to date o n skills relevant in your field,Schawbel adds.With free and low-cost online learning platforms like Coursera and Lynda boasting courses ranging from Photoshop for beginners to the ins and outs of Bitcoin, a worlds worth of hard skills are at your fingertips.2. Be the change you want to see.Millennials are known for innovation. The survey notes that hiring managers believe millennials are open to change (72 percent), creative (66 percent) and adaptable (65 percent)far outranking their Gen X counterparts for these desirable traits.Many companies still run up against the digital divide and shrink from pushing past the old way of doing things. Thats why, if youre a millennial, you should play up your unique digital native talents (real and perceived) to spur innovation on your kollektivs,Schawbel says.Companies are hungry for new ideas, and while millennials are champions of change, all professionals should strive for adaptability.3. Prove youre a team player.While they appreciate seein g specific hard skills onrsums, more and more employers are considering the work culture they wish to develop and seekingteam players to create it. Although millennials are seen as providing critical advantages thanks to their fresh thinking and entrepreneurialism, findings of our study showed that, when asked which generation was more likely to be team players, only 27 percent of hiring managers chose millennials rather than Gen X,Bisharat explains. This perception, whether reality or not, is a demerit that can slow career growth. If youre a member of this youngest generation of professionals, make sure to develop teamwork skills to prove this impression wrong. If youre a more established professional, be open to working closely with and mentoring millennials.4. Stand out as a loyalist.No doubt, employer loyalty is waningwith good reason. All employees are realizing that they cannot count on a corporate entity to return the favor. Despite this, its helpful to be able to tap into yo ur passion and interest for an organization. Simply showing you are dedicated can help you build trust with your team and organization,Schawbel says.With 58 percentof millennials reporting they expect to be in their job fewer than three years, displays of loyalty will certainly nudge employers to invest in your professional future.5. Consider alternative paths.While its great to be able to articulate and demonstrate your interest in a particular company, facts are facts. The majority of employees will not be able to expect to stay in one job for many years, and being agile and flexible enough to shift even to an entrepreneurial path will be key to success for many workers. Even if you venture out on your own, you will never be successful without involving others.Bisharat explains.Sara Horowitz, founder of Freelancers Union, believes freelancing is all about networking. She says, Freelancing successfully means building a network to line up new gigs, passing assignments to others w hen things are busy and getting referrals from friends when theyre not. You never know when these connections will turn into opportunities down the road.Miriam Salpeter,owner ofKeppie Careers, isoften quoted in major media outlets for herjob searchand social media expertise. Author of three books and a sought-after speaker and coach, she leverages her extensive background and successes to teach job seekers and entrepreneurs how to easily usesocial media marketingto accomplish their career and business goals. Salpeter also provides strategic advice and support regarding interviewing, rsum writing and personal branding.