It is quite easy to boost your career without the need to spend longer days and late nights at your desk.

You can easily use several small strategies to improve and expand.

On its own, none of these will make a huge difference, but in combination the end result can be significant.

Here are eight ways to boost your career and make payday a happier event:

My dad brought me up with this: integrity is doing the right thing – even when no-one is looking… That comes into play with these strategies:

1. Be reliable. Become someone your colleagues can trust. Everybody knows someone who couldn’t be trusted to do what they were supposed to do when and how the were supposed to. Inevitably it is someone that you knew wouldn’t be able to keep their promises. Don’t become that person in your office. If you say you are taking the responsibility to do something, then do it. Be 100% reliable at all times.
2. Never be late. Most people never miss a flight on the way to their next holiday, so if you can be that accurate, never arrive late for work either. The same goes for meetings or projects. On the other side of the coin – don’t be too early for meetings. It might look like you are over eager or too much time on your hands. Five minutes early is perfect, but never late!

• The same goes for any project you are working on. Impress by example. If you know you do it a day or too earlier, keep it to yourself. Surprise the boss by turning it in a day or two early. Remember ‒ most people do the opposite and need to be chased.

3. Dress for success. Be neat and look the part ‒ it might just get you that promotion. Always dress one better than your peers. Without brown nosing, dress like your seniors. You’ll be surprised how much difference that makes.

• In my younger days when I was the most junior in the office, I used to dress well enough that I was mistaken for someone much more senior many times – even by the CEO who found it hard to believe that I was just an office worker and not at least a manager. Two years later I was – well ahead of some colleagues who were there longer than me!
  

4. Stay up to date with everything, including your CV. Keep your resume fresh and as current as possible. Take a few minutes at the end of each month and add anything new, adjust some details and update any relevant information. You will be fighting fir and ready before anyone else if and when an opportunity does come along!
5. Be open and available to head hunters. Most agents work on commission. Let them know that you are there – you can be assured they’ll call you when something suitable comes into their sights. Make use of social media, and speaking of that – be aware what you post! Many recruiters find potential job candidates with the help of sites such as LinkedIn. Register and build your profile; also get as many influential people on your list and asked them to endorse your skills.
6. Improve your public speaking abilities. Go on a course; learn how to present yourself. Not many people enjoy standing up in front of a crowd and doing a presentation, but those with good presentation skills are in high demand. Just like your learned how to ride a bike, you will become better – even good – at speaking in front of an audience.

• If you need help, nothing beats Toastmasters International.
  

7. Become an indispensable asset. Nobody is totally irreplaceable, but some people are such indispensable employees that their employers go out of their way to keep them happy. Make sure your employer needs you. Become the best at an important task and become that irreplaceable colleague.

• Volunteer for everything worth your while, and even those sometimes not so worth your while. When the boss is looking for someone to go on a training course or learn a new skill, jump at it. Knowledge and experience can never be taken away from you. Next time you might be the one they cherry-pick for a promotion. Just make sure any extra work is relevant.
• Be there and ready when someone else who though he was irreplaceable, does become replaceable. You may be able to fill some of the gaps that are created by their departure.

8. Don’t hide – find a mentor. There is always someone who will take pride in helping you advance your career. A mentor can give invaluable – and free – advice and introduce you to people in and outside the organization who can be extremely beneficial to you. All of us have to learn from others, and many of the most successful corporates have been mentored along the way.

You are not a lamb. Don’t follow the flock.

The average employee does the least amount of work just to keep their paycheck.

It isn’t difficult to stand out from the crowd by being a little more conscientious.

Don’t sit around and wait for it to happen ‒ take your career to the next level! Improve yourself today by becoming the best at the little things.

Learn from people who know more ‒ find a mentor.

You won’t be sorry!