Yesterday, while at the library with my kids, I picked up a book in the business section and started leafing through it. On the second page I read a line and thought to myself “amen!”
“…you own your career. You are responsible for setting professional goals, identifying and developing the right skills…”- Sink or Swim by Dr. Thuy Sindell
I think this needs to be shared with everyone currently in, or looking to get into the workforce. I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen people adrift in their work life; putting the faith of their careers in the hands of their employers.
In the bad news department: no one is coming to save you and your career.
We all seem to have this false-belief that ‘other people’ will take care of us and that our careers will sort themselves out. Somewhere in our upbringing, we were told to keep our heads down, work hard, and our contributions would be recognized and rewarded. While that may have been true for our parent’s generation, that is not always, or even often, true today. Employers are busy, so it’s up to us to manage our careers.
In the good news department: you don’t need saving, you just need a plan and a willingness to implement that plan.
It’s really not that difficult if you give it the time it deserves.
You put a plan together, implement it, and reassess as you move along.
The problem is: We get too comfortable. Too many of us spend far too long with our career on autopilot and we miss the window to pursue better opportunities and advancements.
Are we missing out because we don’t have a plan? It’s time to start collecting our achievements, designing our strategy for the future, and taking full personal responsibility for our career success.
Let this post be the nudge we need to get back in the skipper’s chair ready to take back the helm of our careers. It’s time to plot our course and prepare to set sail.
Anchors aweigh!
Related Categories: Career Clarity
About The Author
Maureen McCann is an award-winning career coach, master resume writer, and master certified interview, employment, and career strategist whose clients include C-level executives, managers, and professionals in all industries including the Canadian banking, oil and gas, healthcare, IT, and government sectors.