Welcome to Career Guide
Online Career Training Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
You may also listen to this article by using the following controls.
Is your Career Planning simply a series of jobs?
from: John GrothCareer planning: Are you following a planned career path or simply a series of jobs?
Successfully managing your own career is critical for your financial and personal well being. Yet it is rarely pursued on a strategic or informed basis. Career planning, particularly in the technology field, is more and more the responsibility of the individual. Particularly, since most people today end up working for many employers. The overall basis for more successful career management includes developing career plans that are applicable at different stages in your career.
Although living in the information age, there is few comprehensive career information and planning resources available online. Exploring career versus job information is more readily available once you have focused on a career path, such as technology or even further, within a specific industry. Career training in college consists largely on how to interview and write a resume. There seems to be limited formal training programs available about career choices.
When employed the employer generally provides training, successive jobs, and a defined career ladder to the degree that it unites with the organization's needs and objectives. Career coaches mainly work via large employers and focus on building leadership skills, not generally on developing career plans. Outplacement counselors generally help people focus on job searches rather than career plans. Recruiters are looking to fill job positions with top candidates for employers who are their clients and normally do not provide career planning services for individuals.
We can generally fit career planning as having three major phases: early stage from ages 16 to 33; middle, from 34 to 52; and later, beyond 53. Many times, early career choices are highly influenced by parents, relatives, teachers or close friends. The choices of technical schools, colleges or graduate schools, as well as majors, begin to focus interests for career paths.
It is important, in the early stages of a career planning, to carefully make choices, as initial decisions can have a major impact on longer term career success and ultimately, happiness.
Mid-stage career planning and effort usually reflects the initial experiences and jobs one has had with his or her early career. It generally is an extension of that experience. At this stage, there may be a thread of a career track, but job moves and knowledge growth during this phase that are not well planned or executed can result in important limits to career-growth.
Late-stage career planning frequently results from the need to find the right position in one's career after an early retirement or a reduction in force. Career choices at this stage generally reflect more entrepreneurial, part time, or flexible working arrangements. This is when traditional employment limitations as well as long developed interests come more into focus.
Career planning at each stage of a person’s working career can best be analyzed by considering the following:
(1) Take stock of your career. Define your career and objectives at regular intervals preferably at least once a year. Do it in writing. (2) Research and identify possible career options that could meet those career objectives. (3) Evaluate your skills, personality, training and experience. Develop a plan so you can pursue your career objectives. (4) Make a decision as to which career options are the best. Build a plan in the near, medium and long term to reach your career objectives. (5) Be flexible as you monitor your progress. Refine the plan, challenge yourself.
It's critical for you to invest in career planning during each stage of a successful career for short-, medium- and long-term achievement. Ask yourself, are you following a well defined career roadmap or simply working a succession of jobs? If you said yes to the latter, it’s never too late to get started.
Online Career Training News
Turbocharge Your Academic Journey with Advanced College's Summer Courses - MarketWatch (press release)
Turbocharge Your Academic Journey with Advanced College's Summer Courses MarketWatch (press release) LOS ANGELES, May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- There's no time like the present to get closer to a great career. And with these online classes, improving your career won't mean spending extra time and money on your commute. |
New Job Training Offered to Veterans - SurfKY News
 WFMY News 2 | New Job Training Offered to Veterans SurfKY News Every veteran who participates will be provided employment assistance upon completion of the program. Applications are now available online at http://benefits.va.gov/vow. • Not be enrolled in a federal or state job training program. New Program Seeks to Place Unemployed Veterans in High-Demand Jobs Jobless Brevard veterans can cash in on training, education Education Benefits for Unemployed Veterans |
Pass Christian University Now Offering Online Career Training Programs - Houston Chronicle
Pass Christian University Now Offering Online Career Training Programs Houston Chronicle Pass Christian University has a program that makes it easy for individuals to take high-quality, affordable Online Career Training Programs to prepare them to launch a new career or advance in an existing one, no matter where a student is located. |
Medical School Careers Launched to Provide Comprehensive Guide to Medical Students - SBWire (press release)
Medical School Careers Launched to Provide Comprehensive Guide to Medical Students SBWire (press release) The blog aims to chart everything from short courses to online education to entry-level jobs and guidance for advancement. The blog is filled with content-rich original material on topics like cna training, lpn courses and more. |