10 Ways To Finally Catch Your Big Break In The Corporate World

Real life isn't all about travel and wanderlust. For most people, life is about working for The Man, making the most of your weekends, enjoying family and friends and looking for success in your own backyard

My life used to be all about that before I threw it away to travel the world, and believe it or not, I was pretty good at it. So, before I forget what life was like when I had to wear a suit and tie, here are my tips for those looking to make it big in the corporate world:

1. Fit the role, and play the part.

When you are going for a job interview, have the humility to know no one really cares that much about who you actually are. All your employers want to know is, "Can you be the person we are looking for?"

So, can you play the part? How are your acting skills?

The most important factor in getting a job is first understanding what is important to the interviewer, and then simply reflecting that in your answers. As I'll elaborate on later, perception is everything.

2. Work on your presentation and appearance.

Again, it's all about perception. Whether you have the job and have been there for years, or you are going for the interview today, exude humility, speak with confidence and address everyone as if he or she were your uncle or aunt.

You know, treat people like that uncle or aunt you see every so often and are totally comfortable around, but have never really sat down and contemplated the world with. If you can do it with them, you can do it at work. Be yourself.

3. Be a jack of all trades rather than a master of one.

What you'll realize after a while is there really aren't many geniuses in the world. In fact, most people are just doing their best to put food on the table.

You don't have to be the next Stephen Hawking. Just do your best, have a general knowledge on most facets of the popular world and always have a crack.

4. Get a qualification.

The fact is, we are in a time when jobs aren't the easiest to come by. What this does is make it a lot easier for recruiters to up the standards of their interviewees.

Unfortunately, in this generation, a degree is as good as a high school diploma was for our parents. If you don't have one, you probably won't get past the first cut, regardless of your talent.

5. Meet people, and build a network.

It's not a surefire strategy, but more often than not, the corporate world is about who you know, not what you know. It's the foot in the door.

Go to Meetup events. Go to mixers and cocktail nights. Throw away the awkward questioning of yourself, and just say hi to people. You miss 100 percent of the chances you don't take.

6. Remember your boss is just an older version of you.

People seem to get so caught up with nerves whenever their bosses talk to them or growl at them, as if they are these holier spirits or upper-class citizens.

Get that out of your head. Your boss is simply a more experienced version of you. If he or she was any more elite or extraordinary, this person wouldn't be your boss; he or she would be working for NASA.

When you get that in your head, you will treat him or her like your equal, with humility and self-respect. Your boss will feel this and treat you with more of the same tone.

7. Don't take life too seriously.

At the end of the day, a bad day at work or missing a deadline isn't going to start World War III. It's not going to change your life substantially, and it's not going to be remembered in a year.

When you stop taking work so seriously and give it your best shot, you surprisingly end up doing a better job. You come off more relaxed and in control, and as a result, people feel this and feel more confident in you. It also clears your head for more rational thought.

8. Remember your priorities in life.

As an extension of my last point, your job is simply something you do. It can change, and you can change. If you don't like it, leave.

But always remember life is so much more than just your work. Friends and family should always come first.

9. Perception is 90 percent of reality.

This is one of corporate life's biggest truths. No one really knows you. No interviewer really knows your competencies unless you undertake rigorous testing.

If you present yourself as in control, confident in your abilities, humble in your mannerisms and driven in your outlook, you will always have a much better chance than the genius looking at his shoelaces, questioning his abilities. Walk with a bounce in your step, and keep your head held high. Exude who you want to be.

10. Most of success is just showing up and giving your best.

At the end of the day, you have to be in it to win it. If you don't turn up or submit that application in the first place, you will never get anywhere in life.

Don't be afraid to fail, and don't be afraid to succeed. Take every chance you can, and watch where your life takes you.