Career assessment-stay or go?

Career assessment: Now is a good time to carefully evaluate and assess you career.

Here is the middle of October and the other day I noticed a nicely decorated Christmas tree in a department store, while the leaves are still on the trees and I was still mowing my grass. Talk of run of the season. But maybe there is another season that must be brought to the present. Instead of waiting until the new year to perform a thorough career check-up, with the holidays and everything else is in the way, now is an excellent time for you to take a careful look of your career.

How is progressing your career? Where are you now, what do you expect in the near future, and you are satisfied with your progress? A new beginning?

Do not be like a lot of people who do the work and career decisions based on just one or two factors. These decisions should be thought carefully before you change employers or to go in a different career. If you run a wide-ranging career not captured in making career decisions on offences or minor superficial differences. There are more important considerations that completely outweigh these minor distractions in the short term.

Instead of taking career decisions based on short-term factors like you got the last promotion, is your current pay competitive or even how well you get with your boss, your career assessment should be based on a whole series of factors. Don't make the mistake of hastily jumping into another job or become unemployed and then you have to regret the move.

Here are four key factors involved in a career Check-up. Take your time to carefully evaluate each factor.

What is the situation of your employer?

How well is your employer doing financially? Are sales and market share increasing or decreasing? Is your employer a leader and keep up-to-date with the latest trends and technology? Evaluate the reputation of your company in your industry and community, and how this impacts your own career goals.

Is your career negotiable?

What is the current demand for your skills? Be honest with yourself and consult with others in the same location with other employers. You are up-to-date with professional work requirements and the level of work above you? Critically examine this factor. We all, at one time or another, tend to inflate our skills and knowledge to work. What was the recent experience of others in the same field who elected to change employers?

Is your professional career development on track?

Use your skills in your current job? What is your future career growth potential? Your current job using your interests and strengths? Is your current job challenging? You have a say in how your work is performed? Are your ideas try and listen to? What is your potential to advance further with your current employer? And how does your future to your current employer mesh with your career plan?

What are Your personal preferences?

Enjoy your work? Most days are positive? How do you feel about getting up every day and go to work? Is your work personally satisfying? Are you thinking of changing jobs?

If you decide your current situation and promising and rewarding career, even in the face of minor distractions, this assessment will validate your current position. If you find areas that need improvement, develop a plan to address the short fall. However, if you're faced with mainly negative responses, and there are no limits on your career opportunities with your current employer, you might consider looking at other employment prospects.

John Groth is a former Executive coach and career HR. Go to the Career Network and find great resources, articles and a free career planning guide for seven days. Discover up-to-date career strategies and recruitment blog at our all to assist you in planning and managing your career.