Denise,
Great points. I would add that taking the time to examine & explore how your personal work values, strengths & challenges are met in your short & long term goals is an important step as well.
Ryan
I believe that having self awarenes of my own personal work values, strengths and challanges and keeping a list of both short term and long range goals are the most important steps in my career management. Without that self awareness, I would be adrift in a sea of career apathy and could never attain success.
You are right that we have to first see ourselves in our desired future state & then we can start to lay out our plan for how we will get there.
Ryan
I feel that the most important step in personal caeer management is assessing professional values and interests, followed by where do you see yourself in 5 years. Each of us is responsible for assessing our indivdual goals to create a professional development plan. It changes over time.
So true. Self-confidence is a huge aspect of achieving your goals. Not arrogance, but confidence in the abilities, skills, intelligence, etc you have & have developed.
Ryan
In my mind the first step is to have faith in yourself which parlays well into knowing yourself. Being passionate and doing what it takes to be certain that your interest and values are met is a key to ones future.
Yes, as you pointed out we are the mercy of constant change but so true that by being flexible & adaptable we can better steer ourselves in general directions & be better able to ride the waves.
Ryan
So true & we want to make sure to identify both areas so we can continue to develop in both areas & be even more capable.
Ryan
I like what you said about knowing your interests & strengths for personal enrichment & how it builds your confidence.
Ryan
I feel that the first and most important step in personal career management is to know myself. Knowing my strengths and true interests are also important for personal enrichment, because it can give me more confidence and lead to more options.
I understand that the most important step is to take the time to understand what you like and you enjoy doing daily. It is too important - and I would say VITAL for people working with others (customers, clients, students)- to enjoy what you do so you are able to deliver your product in the best way possible.
Not understanding yourself and then not enjoying your job, compromises your identity, your ethic and also your company.
Hi Carl, you are right on when it comes to knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Often we jump into the deep end of the pool and we can't even tread water, much less swim. Be prepared for the next step. Sure there will be challenges but most of us our capable of knowing if we can't lift 500lbs.
I believe that creating goals would be the most important step. If you have developed your short term and long term goals, you can manage your career in order to achieve them. Knowing what career moves to make is never a certainty. We are at the mercy of the ever changing world but if we can steer ourselves in the general direction for each stage of our development, we can then control the finer points to achieve our earmarked goals.
Sounds like you have a very blessed life Darlene. You are truly one of the lucky ones. I am looking to get this kind of stability in the near future.
This a true statement Felicia, to piggyback off the statement "some people tend to make decisions without really knowing what they really want" I know for me with the position I have now, my decision was made on circumstances due to the fact of the way the economy is now, unemployment ect. I was unemployed for six months so I was at the point of just getting my foot in any door. I feel locked in this position this is not a good feeling to have. But changes are comming!
I agree with what you are saying Ryan about reevaluating yourself periodically. Time does bring about changes it affect's our goals and our feelings. If you are young when you feel that you know yourself just keep living that will change as you get older:-)
Nicole, I totally agree with you. Knowing yourself is the most important step. Nobody know you better than you, by knowing youself you are able to be honest with youself and feelings, you better know you likes and dislikes and I feel this is a plus in helping you in your career searches, and help you to find a position yo will be satisified in.
The first step for me is to find out what you are truly passionate about doing. I have known for a many years that I love working with people. I am a very good listener and I like to brainstorm to see if I can give any helpful solutions to to iformation that I hear from others or I may have some personal experience that I can give. My biggest reward in helping is knowing that I have made someone worries a little more manageable.
So true Nicole. I think way too many of us do not take time to get comfortable with ourselves & what we really want to do. I also encourage you to do this periodically throughout your life. This type of activity is not a one & done event but as we change we need to be continually examining our desires, interests, etc.
Ryan
I feel that knowing who I am and what my strong desires and interests are is an important first step. If I am not familiar with what I truly want to do with myself and future, then I can not expand my self development or career goals.
