I posed the question to my dear friend Miss J today, 'What is the difference between a job and a career?"
Her response got me thinking... 'a job is something you have, to survive on a day to day basis; a career is a long term thing and you have something you want to achieve and you use your career to achieve what you want.' It made me realise that right now while I thought I had a career, I really only have a job and I don't have that drive for anything more long term.
It isn't that I don't want to do more or achieve more, it is just that I'm not really being enabled to do so. I used to have a ten year plan, and then got railroaded into an area of the business that I just realised, doesn't really value experience, diversity or me having an opinion and my career has stalled because of it. Not anymore I say. I put a plan to action - effective TODAY. The most important thing to do:
Option 1 or option 2.
Option 1: Make yourself visible to those above you. Your manager has a pretty good idea of what you are working on, but what about their manager? And your manager’s manager’s manager? Find ways to ensure that those in leadership roles know who you are and what you do. This can be done through projects or even chats over coffee, where the subjects can range from industry news to that person’s career history. If they know you, and know about you, they are more likely to think of you when a position does become available. They may be able to suggest a formal mentor in an area of the business you wish to move to. They can only do this once they know you.
Her response got me thinking... 'a job is something you have, to survive on a day to day basis; a career is a long term thing and you have something you want to achieve and you use your career to achieve what you want.' It made me realise that right now while I thought I had a career, I really only have a job and I don't have that drive for anything more long term.
It isn't that I don't want to do more or achieve more, it is just that I'm not really being enabled to do so. I used to have a ten year plan, and then got railroaded into an area of the business that I just realised, doesn't really value experience, diversity or me having an opinion and my career has stalled because of it. Not anymore I say. I put a plan to action - effective TODAY. The most important thing to do:
Option 1 or option 2.
Option 1: Make yourself visible to those above you. Your manager has a pretty good idea of what you are working on, but what about their manager? And your manager’s manager’s manager? Find ways to ensure that those in leadership roles know who you are and what you do. This can be done through projects or even chats over coffee, where the subjects can range from industry news to that person’s career history. If they know you, and know about you, they are more likely to think of you when a position does become available. They may be able to suggest a formal mentor in an area of the business you wish to move to. They can only do this once they know you.
Option 2: If you dislike your job, or see now real way out, you may want to consider looking for a new job in your current field, or try something totally new. Despite competition for jobs continuing to grow, it is also the best time to change careers, with the unemployment rate at 5.0%. This is amongst the lowest in the developed world. If you have your heart set on a change of career, the time to act may be now. Don't wait - you never know what is around the corner.
