Ten Things About Your Career Development

 Career Development. Who tells us about this when we start in our first job or make decisions about college? No one. So do we end up in the perfect job or are we a square peg in a round hole, forever sub-clinically depressed? It's pot-luck...want some help...

There are some tactics you can action whatever you wish for from your career. Whatever you might think right now, you have all the tools you need for a career which give you joy and fulfilment. You might not think that possible, or that it will leave you cash poor. But that's not usually the case. Your life can change within your control.

Those who are the best at Career Development...

1. Recognise Unease
   
   They see within themselves that they are not as happy as they should be and take steps to find out why.
   
   
2. Get Creative
   
   Through the murk and confusion, they are able to step back and see the big picture and leave nothing out as options.
   
3. Understand their Values
   
   By finding out just what is truly important to them - what gives them a real buzz, they use this to create a picture of what it is they want from their career.
   
   
4. Devise Tactics
   
   And so they plan, step by step to see what they can leverage from their current role. What they have elsewhere that they can utilise. All to prepare for moving towards their future
   
   
5. Have a Goal
   
   And they have a Vision; a goal that they want to get to. This gives their activities towards their Career Development energy and focus.
   
   
6. Prioritise
   
   Yet they take it step-by-step, in line with other parts of their lives. Unless they feel there is a moment now where the time has come to make a dramatic step, they take their time, priority by priority, to prepare the way.
   
   
7. Are Focused
   
   The best at Career Development are able to deliver their existing role, keep their eye on the future ball as well as preparing themselves for the next challenge.
   
   
8. Know their Strengths
   
   Vital to be clear on, many who are those round pegs in the square holes strive to get much, much better at the things they struggle with. Bad idea. Top performers work their strong points well and delegate the rest - or find a different role.
   
   
9. Are Ambitious
   
   These folks are on a mission. They want the best for themselves. The very best stop at nothing to get there and use some skills which may verge on selfishness, both in the workplace or in their domestic setting.
   
   
10. Plan
    
    Often they may map out their Career Development way into the distance. Truth is they are very unlikely to take their future by chance.

© 2005 Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com. (Note to editors. Feel free to use this article, wherever you think it might be of value - with a live link if you can).

 Martin Haworth

More Articles 

Career Warfare - A Book Summary - Regine Azurin
This article is based on the following book: Career Warfare "10 Rules for Building a Successful Personal Brand and Fighting to Keep It" By David F. D'Alessandro Published by The McGraw-Hill, 2003 ISBN 0071417583 216 pages It is a tough and...

Call Center Careers: Examined - Mark Sturge
Say the phrase 'Call Center Careers' and sudden images of telemarketers flood the minds of many. This is an unfortunate stigma. The truth is, Call Center Careers are much more and offer a wide range of demands and tasks. It's not just...

Background Requirements For A Career In Biotechnology - John Daye
If you're seeking a career in biotechnology, one thing is for certain ... the more education you have, the higher up you can go. The fact is, no matter where you wind up working, you will be surrounded by people with Ph.D.'s and medical degrees....

21st Century Career Success - Michelle L Casto
When it comes to modern career development, one thing we can all count on is change. With the advent of technology, telecommuting, and E-commerce, how work is performed is in a state of reinvention. Self-employment and small business...

Careers Online - Starting a Small Business - Austin Culley
This article pertains to those wishing to start a small business online with the number of employees starting at one. It is assumed that you intent on building your own web site and will be the administrator of all aspects of your new business until...

How to Start and Sustain a Career as a Freelance Writer - Abdallah Khamis Abdallah
Have you wondered how you can make a career writing books or articles for various publications? Or are you seeking a viable second income opportunity but do not know where to start? Well, freelance writing may be the right career for you and it...

A Career that Makes a Difference - Corbin M Wright
I think I have one of the most important jobs in the world. I didn't realize it at the time, because I took it as a temporary job until, what I thought, a real or permanent job came along. I was an accountant, so I was looking for something...

Career Change: A Glittering Invitation To The Emotional Stalkers - Patricia Soldati
As much as you are yearning for career-change, and as much as the trends actually favor it, just contemplating a shift is a glittering invitation to four emotional stalkers who love nothing better than to play a nasty game of team-tag at your...

Self-Knowledge: The Key To Finding The Right Career Direction - Atul Mathur
Your career, like any journey, has a beginning, an end and a direction. For many people, the present direction of the career is probably not a result of entirely their own choices. If, for some reason, you are not happy with the direction of...

5 Promises that Can Take Your Life and Career to New Heights - Vickie Milazzo RN MSN JD
In 1982, the year I turned 28, I realized my life was headed all wrong. I had gone into nursing wide-eyed, thinking I could make a difference--even improve the state of healthcare. Then I bumped up against the reality that no matter how hard...

Art Career Success with Local Businesses - Aisling D Art
Local businesses can be the best places to sell your original arts and crafts. If your goal is gallery representation, local sales can build your reputation, and fill in your resume. In addition, income from local sales can exceed what you earn...

Top Career Advice ... More Choices and A Better Way of Life - Roger Clark
Valuable career advice can come from aptitude test as they can help in identifying suitable job options. Career tests include tests such as personality profiling, leadership skills, motivation, management style, etc. The results of such tests can...