In your early 20s, you are fresh out of college, with stars in your eyes, ready to take over the world. You are sure you are going to ace it at your first job, walk in like a boss, and have a movie-style professional life. Reality is quite different though. You need to deal with bosses who might not always be understanding, and colleagues who might be competing with you every step of the way. So, it is up to you to make sure your career takes off in the way you want. And the best way to chart the course of your career is by starting early. Your 20s are the best time for you to develop some career habits that’ll take you far in your professional life. So, here is everything you need to do to ace your career like the boss that you are.

Related: 8 Money Mistakes You Should Avoid In Your 20s For A Financially Secure Life

1. Don’t be a perfectionist

Perfection is an illusion. Making mistakes is not just a given, but it is also important. Because it is only by making mistakes that you learn. So, don’t beat yourself up too much if you are less than perfect in some of your tasks. Not every task demands perfection, and chasing after perfectionism is only going to cause you unnecessary stress. So, don’t take too much stress about your work, because a stressed employee is not a productive employee. And productivity trumps perfection, peeps.

2. Advocate for yourself

There’s no one who can advocate for you better than you. So, it is very important for you to learn to speak up for yourself. It can be quite daunting, but it is a skill you need to master in your 20s to ace your career. But before you speak up for yourself, it’s essential that you know what you deserve. You know the work you do, the hard work you put in, whether you go the extra mile or not, and if you are meeting your goals. So, based on all of those parameters and your skillset, ask for what you deserve. Be firm but not boastful.

3. Upskill yourself

If you need to get ahead in your career, it is crucial to upskill yourself. In the ever-changing digital landscape, where each day there is something new that can affect your business, it is important to upskill yourself. Take up courses relevant to your work, learn new skills that can help you in your professional life, and make yourself proficient in new technologies. This will not just give you a personal boost of skills but also show your employer how valuable you are.

4. Step out of the comfort zone

Growth never happens in your comfort zone. If you want success, you need to move out of your comfort zone. It is very easy to stay in a place where you have become comfortable, but the risk of being stagnant is also higher in your comfort zone. So, speak up at the next team meeting, pitch the crazy idea you’ve been harbouring, and write that out-of-the-box copy you want to write. Just do something that disrupts your routine and see how you grow.

5. Master networking skills

Some people are naturally born with the skill to walk up to strangers, start a conversation, and network like a pro. Others are not, and that’s fine. Because networking is a skill that you can learn. Attend those industry events, make connections online through platforms like LinkedIn, connect with executives, and more importantly, make an effort. You never know who might just help you advance in your career or where you might find your next break.

6. Learn to manage your social media

We live in a digital world and social media is an integral part of it. Moreover, social media is also an important aspect of workplaces in the current scenario. So, it becomes even more important to manage your social media. Your social media is your digital footprint that potential employers can use to gauge the kind of person you are, and sometimes even the skills you possess. So, learn to manage your social media.

7. Be your own competition

Competing at a workplace for a promotion or a raise is a part and parcel of professional life. But more than competing with your colleagues, it is important to compete with yourself. Your aim should be to better yourself each day, to outdo yourself with the passing of time. Make use of every opportunity that comes your way and use them as a stepping stone to your growth. It’s very easy to compare yourself with your peers and focus on how they are working at a better company or being paid more than you but do your best not to fall into that hole. Instead, think about how you can be better, and how you can make the best use of the opportunities that come your way. This is one of the best career habits you can develop in your 20s to find your way to success.

8. Focus on your happiness

It’s important to focus on your happiness and be productive. So, choosing career prospects that add happiness to your life is very important. Whether it is in terms of finding a work-life balance or choosing a job that you feel will make you happier in the long run, focusing on your happiness is important. Because if you are happy, you are likely to be more productive at work, which just adds value to your personal and professional lives.

9. Start building your retirement fund

It’s important to start building up your retirement fund from the moment you start earning. When you start a job and start earning for the first time, saving money can seem like a thing of the future. But, in order to secure your future, it’s essential that you start saving and investing from a young age.  Building an emergency fund, a fuck-off fund, and your retirement fund from your 20s will help you sleep better in your 30s and beyond. So, be sure to develop the habit of savings in the 20s, i.e. as early in your career as possible.

Related: How To Save Money And Invest On A Beginner’s Salary In India

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