Managing Your Career Reaps the Greatest Rewards
by Alicia M. Rodriguez, M.A. I've heard it said that we spend more time planning our vacations than
we spend planning our careers. Being pro-active about your career will assure that you drive your career instead of being driven by your career.
This applies to people who are currently in a job as well as people seeking employment. A periodic review of your career and your life goals is essential to pro-active career management. How many people do you know that actually chose their job consciously? How many of you actually have a plan of action for your career? Is your job just a job, or is it a career or even a vocation? How you answer this question will indicate the level at which you are committed to the work you do and possibly, the level of enjoyment you get from the work.
Many people gamble with their careers, hoping that the job they chose will make them happy and bring them the financial and life rewards they seek. We believe that if we read the want ads, or surf the Internet long enough, the "right" job will emerge. We become square pegs trying to fit into round holes and we wonder, why we are not happy.
Managing your career in a pro-active manner is a three-step process.
First, we must journey inward before we move forward. Through introspection and assessment determine what is important to you. What kinds of activities engage you and have you feel accomplished and fulfilled? Usually these activities hold the elements that indicate our innate talents and gifts and have us feel productive, happy and accomplished. Consider your entire life and what role a job or career plays in your life. If you have family obligations, is flexibility important to you? If you are single, would you like to work in a location that supports a single lifestyle? Consider elements such as environment, location, commute, finances and pace in establishing parameters for your job or career. Combine this intuitive process with quantifiable assessments you can obtain through career coaching or counseling professionals. These assessments clarify and distinguish your skills, talents and motivations and some even help you write a more effective and targeted resume.
Consider the first step as establishing "your criteria" for a job or career.
In establishing these criteria, you can then focus on industries, careers and organizations that maintain the same values and allow for the elements that you have learned are pre-requisites for having meaningful and rewarding work. The second step then is research and outreach. This includes researching industries or organizations that meet your criteria. Outreach includes writing or updating a professional resume. Remember you have less than 30 seconds to make an impression on the reader. Promote what you now know are your special skills and talents. Use the resume discreetly, sending it only to interested parties. Most importantly, whether your goal is to get a promotion, or find new employment, network with friends and associates. According to a recent survey by global workplace consulting firm Drake Beam Morin: 61% of the respondents found their current job through networking, 12% through search firms, 8% through ads and 6% through the Internet.
Create a thirty second elevator speech that clearly, specifically and distinctly answers the question you will be asked when you network: "What kind of job/work are you looking for?" In doing this, others will have an understanding of what constitutes a good opportunity and can advocate appropriately for you.
Your third step is ongoing preparation and updating.
Consider that regardless of where you go, you may always be at risk of losing your job. But you need not be a victim should this occur. How you manage your career will determine how quickly you are able to leverage opportunities. Be selfish about your requirements and your personal and professional boundaries. Validate your work and your competency from the inside out. Keep a success or accomplishments log. Maintain your networking contacts and an updated resume. Don't be shy about marketing yourself to those inside and outside your company.
Being pro-active about your career will assure work that is well integrated into your life, providing meaning and rewards. You have a long working life ahead of you. Be open to ways of bringing meaning, and financial rewards, to sustain you for the journey!
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© Alicia M. Rodriguez, 2002. All rights reserved.
Please feel free to forward this on.
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Reproduction for publication is approved, provided the copyright information is included along with the following attribution: by Alicia M. Rodriguez, M.A., Personal Coach, Soul Centered Life Management™, 410-544-5262 , E-Mail: aliciamr@sclmcoach.com and website: www.sclmcoach.com
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