Five ways to progress in your career in a hybrid workplace
How we advance in our careers has changed. Before the pandemic, managers saw first-hand how we worked and interacted, and this physical visibility often played a significant role in advancement. But, in today’s hybrid and remote environments, these signals are less apparent. To position yourself for promotion, you now need to be more intentional about the areas that sit beyond your formal job spec.
Sholina Durga, Managing Director: Distance Learning and MBA at Richfield, says that career development is no longer something that ‘just happens’: “You need to take ownership of your trajectory. You need to build the skills and visibility that move you forward.”
Durga unpacks five areas that support career progression in the modern workplace:
Start with a self-assessment: You can plan your career more effectively when you understand your strengths and skills. The first steps are identifying your current capabilities, and reviewing how they align with the direction your employer and industry are taking. The next step is to fill any gaps. These reviews and adjustments should form a continuous, internal feedback loop that informs an ongoing action plan.
Upskill, all the time: With the world of work in a constant state of flux, the qualification you earned 10, or even five, years ago may no longer be relevant. To add as much value as possible to your role, you need up-to-date career-focused qualifications designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge to succeed.
Qualifications in IT and business science have become foundational across industries and roles. If you understand the strategies and technologies shaping organisations, you are far more likely to stay relevant. Meanwhile, the MBA remains one of the most sought-after management qualifications, with employers continuing to signal rising demand.
In addition, micro-credentials from industry bodies like IBM, Amazon, Cisco, Oracle, Salesforce, and CIMA align with the skills employers are looking for. Durga advises that if you are considering a tertiary qualification, you should look for an institution that embeds these courses into its curricula.
And, with numerous private tertiary institutions offering online programmes, you can balance work and life with flexible distance learning.
Learn how to use AI: With AI defining almost every aspect of professional environments, it is increasingly important to understand how – and when – to use it.
“AI can be invaluable for exploring ideas and comparing concepts,” Durga says. “These tools can enhance efficiencies, but they are not a replacement for human capabilities. Developing the ability to use AI ethically while maintaining critical thinking skills is a core professional competency.”
Build quality networks: Long considered essential for professional visibility, networking is more important than ever. Talking to the right people, at the right time, helps ensure that your name is mentioned in the right conversations before roles are even advertised. Attending conferences, leading industry discussions, and engaging meaningfully on platforms like LinkedIn can help you access opportunities, strengthen your credibility, and open doors.
Mentorship can also play an important role in career development. Gaining insights and direction from experienced professionals can help you make better decisions and accelerate your growth with greater clarity and confidence.
Hone your professional reputation: Advancement is often influenced by how leaders perceive your reliability and expertise, and reputation has emerged as one of the most powerful career assets.
Being known for mastery of a specific area of expertise positions you better when new opportunities arise. Consistency and visibility also matter. Delivering quality work, meeting deadlines, and communicating effectively all contribute to your credibility, while sharing learnings and collaborating constructively allows you to demonstrate your capabilities more widely.
“In a hybrid workplace, it is not enough to just show up. Your career growth comes from making yourself visible in meaningful ways, taking deliberate steps to develop your skills, and creating the kind of impact that others cannot ignore,” ends Durga.
