Career management
- Think about work and lifestyle preferences when considering career options
Career management is essential for people to be able to protect their income, enhance their marketable skills and give themselves options for the future.
People who are proactive about managing their careers are more likely to thrive, especially where there is strong competition for jobs, or where a career change is being considered.
Regardless of their vocation, a person's work satisfaction is heavily reliant on matching their unique characteristics with a job. There are four stages in the career management process:
- developing self-awareness
- becoming aware of opportunities
- making decisions and planning
- taking action.
It is important to note that this is a cyclic process.
Developing self-awareness
Self awareness is a critical foundation for career management. The more people know about themselves, the better prepared they will be to find a career that suits them.
Becoming aware of opportunities
Once they are armed with increased self-awareness, a person will be able to look at all the options available with a better understanding of what they want their next career step to be.
Making decisions and planning
During this phase, a person will set goals, plan, and review previous plans. This approach will facilitate decision making and a move toward taking action.
Taking action
Taking action might involve:
- creating a CV
- enhancing networking and interview skills
- moving into further study
- starting a business or doing work experience.
During the career management process, people need to be flexible and responsive to change – and prepared to take risks and to follow up on opportunities. It is important that they maintain health and wellness in what can be an exciting yet difficult stage. They should also be willing to find alternatives if things don’t go the way they planned.
When considering career options, people should think about the relationship between the life they lead and the work they do. For example, do they want more work-life balance? What are their lifestyle priorities or work preferences? These are essential elements in helping them reach optimal career satisfaction.
Sources
- Ministry of Education, ‘Career Education and Guidance in New Zealand Schools’, 2003, Learning Media.
- Seek website, accessed December 2008, (www.seek.co.nz).
