Article by: Jon Harvill CPC
APICS Atlanta Career Center Director
Article appeared in the April 2009 APICS Atlanta Newsletter
Once upon a time, not so long ago, many
good managers considered it part of their duties to help their
employees plan their careers, including arranging lateral moves
to broaden their experience,
and special assignments and
educational courses to better prepare them for that next
progression up the corporate ladder.
It does not happen as much as it
should in today’s “replaceable” and ”disposable” job
environment.
Today, whose job is it to manage your career?
1.
If
you have taken responsibility for your own career development, you may be a
member of a wise but small minority.
2.
You
may also be in an even smaller minority if you are very happy with your
employment situation and consider your career to be on track for your career
goal.
3.
If
you have analyzed your situation enough to realize that you are dissatisfied
with what you are doing, your supervisor, your company or your industry, then
you may actually be a step ahead of a large fourth group.
4.
Many of your co-workers may have not even noticed that they are unhappy or they
may think that dissatisfaction is normal.
They are unhappy but have not figured out that it could be job related.
First, let’s consider Keeping the job you have -
If you
are in the right job with the right company and in the right industry then you
may want to do all that you can to keep the job you have.
Things you can do:
·
Know your company’s goals and align yours to your company’s.
·
Communicate closely with your boss.
Discuss where you can be of most value to your employer.
·
Master your job and take on additional responsibilities and projects.
·
Evaluate who your boss would terminate if required to cut staff 50%.
Avoid being in that half.
·
Avoid negative people.
·
Become the go-to person other departments seek out.
·
Become the power user for our company’s software.
·
Read five books on your job function and your industry.
·
Join and be active in your professional associations and earn its
certifications.
·
Avoid being viewed as a high-maintenance employee.
·
Prepare yourself for that next internal or external career opportunity.
·
But, be prepared for an involuntary career change, as well.
·
Update your resume, your network and your networking skills.
·
Be
a leader, or a good follower your boss can count on, if that is what is needed.
If you are in the wrong job -
If you
are in the wrong job, it may be evidenced by factors like, you hate to get up in
the morning, you lack pride in what you are doing, you do not get
along with your co-workers or your supervisor, or
you find it takes more effort for you than for most others to do your present
job.
Things you need to do are:
·
Analyze what you are good at and what alternative jobs require the skills you
enjoy using.
·
Use
psychological testing to identify your interests and aptitudes.
·
Prepare a resume and cover letters focused on the transferable skills you
possess and describe what you can bring to a new employer.
·
Read those five books on your new career direction.
·
Join the right professional associations for your new career direction.
Participate, educate yourself and gain certifications.
·
Establish and cultivate a network of individuals aligned with your new career
goal.
There
are obviously other factors that figure into your total happiness and the
availability of that very special job that completely satisfies your need for
self actualization.
Assume you have control; function as if you have
control, and you will probably find you have control a little more than the next
bloke.
Jon Harvill CPC, APICS Career Center Director, can be contacted at 770 952-0009,