By the time you reach 30, many of us look back on our careers and evaluate our achievements. As you enter the working world, there will be a number of challenges that you will face along the way, and milestones you will achieve.
Here, in no particular order, are 30 things everyone can try to achieve before their 30th birthday.
1. Speak at a conference
Always a valuable experience – and great for profile-building too. Seize the opportunity whenever you can.
2. Work abroad
It’s useful to learn about different cultures and working practices. And it always looks good on your CV.
3. Make industry news
Nothing quite matches the thrill of seeing your name in print or online – especially when it’s also going to be seen by a whole host of potential future employers.
4. Make your screen debut
Could be anything from a website profile to an appearance as a spokesperson on local news.
5. Lead a meeting
It’s a valuable skill that will serve you throughout your career.
6. Become an expert at giving and receiving feedback
Not only for your own personal development but also to help those around you.
7. Learn how to delegate
It’s better to do few tasks very well then to spread your time thinly across too many tasks.
8. Pitch to the board
It doesn’t matter whether it’s your board or a client’s board. Just get yourself in front of them and let everyone see what you’re made of.
9. Master PowerPoint and Excel
Everyone at work uses them so why not learn the essentials and give yourself an edge?
10. Get headhunted
This depends on you building up a strong network of contacts and making a name for yourself among colleagues and peers.
11. Be a coach or mentor
You may even end up learning a few things yourself.
12. Run a workshop
Could be a small one just for the people in your team – or an all-singing, all-dancing client affair.
13. Have lunch with a client
This is a good opportunity to build your relationship in a more informal environment.
14. Win an award
For inspiration, check out some of the awards that our colleagues helped us achieve recently.
15. Hire someone
Sifting through applications and interviewing people can be a valuable learning experience.
16. Learn how to write a business plan
If you’re thinking of starting up a business at university, this is something you will definitely need.
17. Meet the CEO
This maybe more difficult to do in a large organisation, but having a meeting with them early on will get you noticed..
18. Build something from scratch
Could be anything. A team? A product? An overseas office? A company?
19. Contribute to your company’s diversity agenda
Here are some of the things we have been doing on diversity at Enterprise.
20. Get promoted
If you work hard, you will be provided with the recognition. For example, we provide the support that our management trainees need to get promoted to assistant manager within two years.
21. Go way out of your comfort zone
Terrified of public speaking? Then why not volunteer to speak at a conference (and cross off thing-to-do #1 while you’re at it).
22. Contribute to your company’s CSR work
You can learn more about what we’re doing to manage our business sustainability here.
23. Hone your negotiating skills
Often in your working environments, negotiating will be involved in the decision making process. Work on building these to come to decisions quickly.
24. Perfect your LinkedIn profile
When anyone in the professional world wants to find out more about you, this is where they’re going to look first. And you know what they say about first impressions…
25. Earn a bonus
Even if it’s just for referring a friend.
26. Plan for your retirement
It’s never too early to start thinking about your retirement. But you can definitely leave it too late. Start making plans now if you haven’t already.
27. Work out what you really want from your career
The first few years of your career are the perfect time to experiment. Try and gain exposure to as many different things as you can. By 30, you should then have a clear idea of what you enjoy, what you’re good at and what you’d like to be doing in the longer term.
28. Experience failure
Not something you necessary want to experience, but it can be an important stepping stone on the road to success. So, as long as you learn from all your mistakes, you shouldn’t be afraid to make them.
29. Take part in a formal development programme
Our graduate management training programme is a good example of what we mean.
30. Explore various opportunities
Because there are lots of great opportunities out there – and you shouldn’t be afraid to rotate within your company if something better comes along. You can find out more about all the graduate job opportunities we offer.