Manage Your Career. Six Steps To Follow
 By
Rick Dacri, Dacri & Associates
Manage Your Career. That's the advice I received early in my
professional career. Manager your career or someone may manage it for
you--and you might not like what they have planned.
Today, as I coach executives, managers and those who find their careers
in transition, I always pass that advice on. Manage your career.
So how do you best manage your career? There are six basic steps to
follow:
| 1. |
Inventory your career –
regularly take stock and write down your significant accomplishments,
training programs completed, jobs, education, and achievements. Focus
on your contribution and value that you bring to your organization
rather than the tasks you perform. |
| 2. |
Have an updated resume –
resumes are a must when looking for a new job, but they are a great
tool to share with your boss during performance appraisal time, when
going for a promotion or pay raise, or when applying for a position
within your company. View the resume as your personal marketing
piece—and once again, focus on accomplishments rather than tasks
performed. |
| 3. |
Know what makes you happy
– jobs and career are a big part of your life so you might as well be
happy doing it. And remember, job and career are two different things.
A job is what we do to make money. A career is a passion, a
professional focus. It’s what excites you, challenges you, drives you.
You know you’ve arrived when you get paid to work in your career field
in a company that appreciates your unique contribution. |
| 4. |
Network, network, network –
successful people are good networkers and they do it often. Get out of
the office and meet with different people. Join professional
associations and take an active role. Build your Rolodex. |
| 5. |
Stay current – no
matter what your education or training, in a short period of time
you’ll find yourself falling behind if you’re not regularly taking
courses, attending trainings, and reading professional journals. |
| 6. |
Get a professional coach or mentor
– coaches can provide you needed advice and
counsel in a safe environment. They are a sounding board for your
ideas, an unbiased critic, the one who can give you a push when you’re
stuck. They assist with business issues or style issues and they’ll
help to enhance your knowledge, performance, and image. |
Imagine what it would be like to find yourself
enjoying a successful career—doing what you want to do, where you want
to do it, and getting paid well for doing it. Follow these six steps
and your career will take off. Remember, only you can manage your
career.
Rick
Dacri is a human resource consultant, featured speaker at regional and
national conferences, and author of the book “Uncomplicating
Management: Focus On Your Stars & Your Company Will Soar.”
Since 1995 his firm, Dacri & Associates has helped
organizations improve individual and organizational performance. Rick
connects with people in a positive and challenging way to offer
practical solutions. He can be reached at 207-967-0837, or via email at
rick@dacri.com
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