Career Planning

Success is a function of planning. This applies as much to the achievement of long-term goals as to immediate job search goals. While sheer luck or "being in the right place at the right time" definitely play a role in personal or professional advancement, they are no substitute for careful prior planning. Just as your employer will develop five-or ten-year plans, you, too, should develop a career plan with specific actions and intermediate objectives along the way.

In today's capitalistic society individuals are rewarded on the basis of risk and investment. A grocery store clerk may work hard for many years but the compensation plan never permits financial freedom. As a clerk, the risks and investment in the store's success are low. Conversely, a vice president of financial services assumes a relatively high risk. With responsibility for millions of dollars of assets comes risk, not to mention an investment in education and years of experience. Both the clerk and the vice president of operations work hard but one earns $7.00 an hour while the other earns a six figure salary. Working hard is a key ingredient in career growth but you must be willing to accept risk and invest in yourself to maximize your career potential.

Harvey Mackay, author of Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive, points to how many people are "vastly overpaid" as they train for a new job. After learning the job they are "vastly underpaid" for the next twenty years until they reach the top where they will be once again vastly overpaid in relation to their contribution. His suggestion - don't stick around for the gold watch. After learning an experience move on to your next opportunity. In this day and age of mergers and acquisitions moving up through the ranks in a linear fashion is a challenge. More people have found success "zig-zagging" their work experience.

For example, an individual who has work experience in both sales and the healthcare industry would place them as a desirable candidate for a sales position with a pharmaceutical company. Possessing multiple skills and experiences increases your marketability.

Perhaps most important will be your "on the job" performance and the assessment of that performance by your superiors. There are a number of concrete actions you can take which will serve both to enhance your performance and project the image of a "top performer." We strongly urge you to take these steps to further your career goals.

• Join a professional or trade association