Steer Your Career in a Clear and Positive Direction

Your career is like a ship and you're the captain. You can drift along or take command to guide it in a clear and positive direction. Here are some suggestions for setting your course and sticking to it so you wind up where you want to go.

Setting a Course for Your Career

Conduct a thorough self assessment. Think about your interests and skills. Consider what you're good at and what you like doing. Maybe you like working independently or perform best when you're part of a team. Do you like working with your hands? Do you have a nice voice and enjoy having conversations with others?

Research your options. Once you have a list of ideas for what you might want to do, look for occupations that match up with the profile you've created. You will probably find a number of choices. A love for teaching could lead you into academia or corporate training. Consult occupational directories or ask a career coach for assistance.

Take career tests. Career testing is one way to get a better picture of your abilities. You can find many free programs online to get started.

Interview people. Talk to people who are already working in your chosen field. They can share their first-hand experience and provide more perspective on the necessary qualifications, typical responsibilities, and employment prospects.

Focus on priorities. Many people discover that they have multiple interests which may change over the years. Try narrowing your list down to three top priorities at a time to keep things manageable. If you can't decide on one profession, choose one and stick with it for 6 months to a year before changing to one of your other options. You have to give it have a chance before deciding that it's not for you and time to move onto another option.

Put your plan in writing. Use a dedicated notebook for goals and make a written record of your goals and the steps you need to take to reach them. It will help you to chart your progress and spot areas where you need to do more work or get more training or career advice.

Sticking to Your Career Route

Perform regular evaluations. This can be a lifelong project. One good habit is to update your resume at least every six months. Use that time to analyze if you're headed in the right direction or need to make adjustments.

Take on new responsibilities in your current position. Wherever you're currently working, you can look for opportunities to grow. Give your supervisor a proposal asking to take on a new assignment. You can also use the proposal method to request a title change.

Be forward thinking. Set both short term and long term goals. You may decide to attend three networking events in the next six months and get a more senior position within two years.

Continue your training. Take advantage of opportunities to get more training and education. Some employers offer in-house programs or cover the costs for job-related courses.

Find a coach. You might find it helpful to work with a career coach. This could be a paid professional such as myself, or a supervisor or colleague willing to play that role.

Do volunteer work. Volunteering is always a great way to give back to your community while broadening your experience. Find an organization you want to support and pick a project you want to learn more about, like marketing or events management.

Develop a side job. Turn your hobby into an additional source of revenue. Over time, it may grow into a full time job doing what you love, or provide income and support during inevitable economic downturns.

Be proactive. Above all, take the initiative to figure out what kind of work will be fulfilling for you. Aiming for something you care about will keep you motivated and diligent.

Imagine looking back on your career with the satisfaction of accomplishing your goals, being able to provide for your family, being self sufficient and making your mark on the world. Planning ahead and making the necessary mid-course corrections will put you in charge and make your work more rewarding.

About the author:

Morganne Gervais created CareerspressoⓇ to help people re-enter the workforce after an extended break in employment by teaching them how to create an achievement-based resume, negotiate salary, and ace their interview using 3 unique principles she developed.

She is an expert on the topic of Advancing Women to Leadership, and a highly sought-after speaker and consultant specializing on the topics of job searching, career advancement, business building, and developing a winning mindset to succeed in today’s job market. She launched her coaching career by conducting an online webinar for The Magic Johnson Foundation; Taylor Michael's Scholarship Program.

Morganne has over 20 years of experience in Training, Recruiting, and Human Resources. The knowledge she has acquired through work, and personal work experiences early in her career are invaluable to both new and seasoned professionals. Ms. Gervais’ business acumen and expertise enabled her to successfully place 98% of her candidates with corporate clients during the last two recessions.

Ms. Gervais holds a Bachelor of Arts from San Jose State University and a Master of Arts in Psychology and Organizational Leadership from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

You can learn more about maximizing your job search, advancing your career or starting a business by visiting her YouTube channel.