Advancing in your career involves learning new skills, taking on challenges, and seizing opportunities for growth. In this post, we’ll explore useful career development idioms that capture advancement, learning, and success in the workplace.
| Idiom | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Laying the groundwork | Preparing for future success | She’s laying the groundwork for her career by taking on additional responsibilities. |
| Hit the books | Study hard | He’s hitting the books to improve his skills and advance his career. |
| Sharpen your skills | Improve your abilities | By taking online courses, she’s sharpening her skills to become a more valuable asset to the company. |
| Learn the trade | Acquire knowledge and experience in a particular field | He’s learning the trade by working closely with experienced colleagues. |
| Putting in the hours | Working hard and diligently | She’s putting in the hours to prove herself and get promoted. |
| Put your best foot forward | Make a strong effort | He’s putting his best foot forward in the interview to impress the hiring manager. |
| Get your foot in the door | Secure an entry-level position | She’s trying to get her foot in the door at a prestigious company. |
| Finding your feet | Getting comfortable in a new situation | It took him a few months to find his feet in the new role. |
| Making a name for yourself | Becoming well-known and respected | She’s making a name for herself in the industry with her innovative ideas. |
| Make your mark | Have a significant impact | He wants to make his mark on the company by implementing new strategies. |
| Climb the corporate ladder | Advance in a company’s hierarchy | She’s ambitious and determined to climb the corporate ladder. |
| Get a leg up | Receive an advantage | Having a mentor has given her a leg up in her career. |
| Rise through the ranks | Advance in a company’s hierarchy | He’s risen through the ranks and is now a senior manager. |
| Going places | Likely to be successful | She’s going places with her talent and hard work. |
| Go up in the world | Improve your social or economic status | He hopes to go up in the world and achieve financial security. |
| Shoot for the moon | Aim for the highest possible goal | She’s shooting for the moon and hopes to become CEO one day. |
| Reach for the stars | Aim for the highest possible goal | He’s reaching for the stars and pursuing a career in a competitive field. |
| Hit a ceiling | Reach a point where you can’t advance further | She’s hit a ceiling in her current role and needs to find a new opportunity. |
| Reap the rewards | Benefit from your efforts | After years of hard work, she’s finally reaping the rewards of her dedication. |
| Bear fruit | Produce results | Her efforts have finally borne fruit, and she’s been offered a promotion. |
ℹ️ Other Useful Pages
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👉 Business English Idioms List
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We hope you enjoyed our career development idioms