For the past 30 to 40 years career advisors and career coaches
published books, conducted seminars and guided people into plotting
career paths. Everyone was looking for the quickest way to the corner
office, and career consultants earned a good living mapping out career
plans for young professionals.
Secure jobs and the opportunity to
work a lifetime for one employer gave the career path gurus a real
purpose to provide guidance in laying out career paths and plans. The
concept of career planning and defined career paths needs to be
reexamined. The more likely work history of those starting out in the
last ten years, they will change jobs or careers several times
throughout their lives. Also, more typically the career or job changes
will be out of the blue.
Many times we define ourselves by what we
do, what our career is, and what we do for a living. During our working
life we try many jobs. From the fast food restaurant, or the local
Wal-Mart, or the summer job during college, we try many jobs with
different bosses in different industries. Hopefully, we find something
we’re avid about. If found early enough we can spend our working lives
mastering the career and the skills that go with it.
In today’s
changing economy and workplace it’s becoming more difficult to hit the
career home run early in one’s working life. It’s more natural to travel
several different routes before finding the vocation that truly fits
you interests and desires.
Looking for new challenges seems to be the norm when
many reach their early 40’s. Career changes, at whatever age are both
normal and natural. As we build on our achievements and what is
meaningful it prepares us for future career adjustments and changes.
There
still remain a few professions where there is an inflexible path that
leads to mastery of the career. Physicians and attorneys come to mind
but there are few similar career paths in the corporate world.
For
example, IT professionals have to reinvent themselves every year or
two. Skills and the knowledge base change so rapidly in the technology
field that if you are not constantly upgrading your skills you’ll find
your career ending with the advance of technology.
The overall
message is to be open to changes and learn to be flexible. Be on the
lookout to master new skills, so you can make your career more valuable.
Another advantage of being flexible and learning new concepts and
skills will likely lead to the career and job that you will be more
satisfied with, and who knows even passionate about. Good luck on your
journey.