By Dr. Olaniyi Opanuga, PhD, MBA, FNIPM, FCIAM, COPOM©

Your ability to navigate through challenges of the labour market, Workplace and business environments depends on preparedness, deliberate planning, knowledge, skills and commitment to seek out opportunities and explore possibilities in life.

 

Getting a good Job, growing in a career or starting your own business now and in the future require continuous learning, acquisition of academic and professional qualifications, building connections, sharing experience in a professional network, earning further certifications and so on are important.

 

Self-Development and professional advancement go hand in hand. Visionary, forward looking and progressive people invest in themselves by building skillset and expanding their knowledge in line with their career goals. At a point in your life, you may plan to switch to a new career due to circumstances or simply because you want to follow your passion.

 

The dynamics of the labour market and the fast- paced nature of the workplace require creative approaches by those who wish to succeed in their careers.

To increase your chances of career or business success you need to work towards it. Acquire relevant employability skills through academic qualifications, professional certifications, networking programmes and connections availed by the membership of relevant professional bodies such as the Nigerian Institute of Production Management – NIPM, The Certified Institute of Applied Management and Administration –CIAMA, College of Production and Operations Management COPOM and the Operations, Logistics and Supply Chains Leaders Academy – OLSCLA

Companies do train their employees according to the learning and development (L&D) needs and based on their HR policies. However, smart employees don’t wait for their employers to think for them or organize courses whenever they deem it fit. They walk up to their superior officers or the HR department to indicate interest in training and development programmes that can help them to grow in their careers. They also contact mentors, career advisers and professional bodies to seek advice on how they can become more relevant in their present and future jobs.