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Failure to Plan is Planning to Fail
The year 2000 will be remembered for its bountiful economic prosperity along with the flood of year-end downsizing and lay offs. It's crucial that we learn from these dynamic times the importance of taking charge of your work life. Career planning is essential as no one is more interested in your career success and future progression than you.
Have you established long-term goals? Do you know where you'd like to be in two, three, or five years? The start of a new year is a perfect time for introspection.
Here are some suggestions to start the planning process:
1. Do you enjoy the work you do? Is the environment or industry challenging?
Prepare a self-assessment to identify what you like and dislike about your work
and areas you would like to pursue. Sometimes, progression can be as simple as
changing industries or employment sectors.
2. Research your career field to determine future opportunities. Evaluate educational requirements and explore training or formal educational opportunities that will stimulate you as well as qualify you for new positions.
3. Seek out special projects and task forces within your current organization. You'll expose yourself to new opportunities in different parts of the organization when you establish communication channels with new colleagues from other divisions and departments.
4. Affiliate yourself with professional organizations. A circle of colleagues with different backgrounds and experiences exposes you to lateral and promotional options outside your organization. Colleagues provide information and valuable support that helps facilitate career moves.
5. Get involved with your community. Volunteer your expertise at the library, the local school, the community center, fraternal organizations, or wherever you please. You'll provide needed community support and you'll benefit too through an expanded network and the creative stimulation fueled by using your skills in new environments.
Set yourself simple goals to build a solid foundation for career success in 2001. Enjoy the process!