Final Tips

Final Tips: Keys to Career Planning & Job Hunting

Always Remain Aware Of The Marketplace
Stay abreast of key trends and advances in the marketplace in general and your field in particular. Careers are changing faster than ever. New careers are emerging. Awareness of what is going on is your responsibility in the career/job game. It keeps your mind focused and motivates you to stay up-to-date.

Continuously Monitor And Evaulate Your Progress
Do some serious soul-searching at various points in your career. Evaluate yourself versus the goals you've set. Revise goals as necessary and/or develop new plans to refocus and redirect where you want to go.

Focus Of What You Want Or Like To Do
It sounds obvious, but many people actually forget this when considering jobs and careers. You'll probably spend over half of your waking hours at work. You OWE it to yourself to seek opportunities and situations you LIKE.

Focus On Fit
The bottom line is that you need to find the job situations that fit you best. Granted there is no perfect fit between you and a job. Nevertheless, the closer you get to the perfect fit, the better. And remember, the elements of fit include job duties, pay, work environment, company culture, etc. It is NOT only the job duties.

Keep Current In Your Current Or Future Field
Join organizations and associations and be active in them. Keep up on new trends in your field through reading or taking courses.

Invest In Yourself After Your Formal Education Ends
Take advantage of your organization's continuing education opportunities or invest 2-3% of your gross income in yourself through training courses, seminars, outside education or just plain reading in your field.

Focus Long-Term Always (almost)
Positioning yourself to reach your long-term goals must be a strong motivator for you. Accepting the long-term challenge is vital. At the same time, don't totally forsake short-term considerations (e.g. need to pay bills, eating, housing, etc.).

Use Short-Term Experiences To Get Your Long-Term Goals
Use as many building short-term blocks to reach your long-term heights. Identify them yourself or seek advice from people in-the-know.

Talk To People
This is, and always will be, the most critical element in your process. Whether it is interviewing, finding out information about jobs and careers, or simply staying in touch with colleagues, you should make an investment in talking to others. Over the long haul, networking will reap a harvest for you as long as you sow the seeds continually. This may include information, job offers, aid in decision-making, or other helpful assistance.

Use Current Strengths And Develop New Ones
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, be aware of both the need and how you will get better. Build your new skills off of your existing strong base of skills. Add to your knowledge base, within and outside of your current occupation, industry and employer.

Don't Confuse The Wrong Occupation With The Wrong Work Setting
Organizations change whether for better or worse. Don't ditch a career because of changes in your workplace. Career renewal may be simply a matter of finding a better fit for your skills and knowledge.

Watch Out For The Killer B's: Blockage, Boredom, and Burnout
Job dissatisfaction usually is tied to these areas. Evaluate the hurdles, monotony and stresses you are unhappy about. Develop alternatives to address them.

Change Jobs/Careers If You Need To Or Want To
You owe it to yourself to be happy. No one ever said you have to stay in a job or career you dislike. Make the adjustments and changes that will give you the happiness and fulfillment you need as a thriving, healthy, human being.

Recycle VS. Replacement
Don't throw out a career without in-depth examination and soul searching. If you've done solid decision-making, dissatisfaction may be primarily related to the employer or workplace. New responsibilities may be a point of discussion for you and your current employer. Adjustments or changes in these directions may be all you need to renew your energy and outlook.

Be Professional Always
Always show courtesy and use your best manners with anyone you are in contact with in the job process. Being goal directed does not allow you to be rude. Treat others how you would want to be treated.

Remeber the Big Picture
Your career is PART of your life. It is NOT your life. The decisions you make about your career MUST be made within the greater scope of your LIFE planning. How you mix and blend your career and non-career life will make you a happy traveler on your journey through life.

Realize These Are Important Decisions-They Are Not Life and Death Situations
Yes careers and jobs are important. But what else is important to you? Health? Family? Travel? Leisure time? Ask yourself how these (and other things) combine to make you a happy and fulfilled person. And remember that you should strive for the BEST DECISIONS based on what you know or what you anticipate. There are NO PERFECT DECISIONS.

Play From Ahead
In sports, it's easier to win if you are ahead in the game. Apply this principle to your career. Continually monitor your progress, communicate with your network, keep your resume up to date, and know your story as it develops. Be ready to go on the job/career hunt at a moment’s notice. Some day you may have to find a new job because of downsizing. If you've let your process become inactive for a long period of time, it's that much harder to start the engines when you have to get going. STAY AHEAD IN THE GAME!

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