Career Development - How to Shape Your Career and Follow Through

It's so easy to say what you want to become but career development will help you achieve it. Through thorough self examination, you will know your abilities, skills and interests. You will also realize what you are looking for in a job. And then by exploring several interesting careers, you would be able to find the right career that perfectly matches with your personality.

Choosing the right career is a requirement in career development. If you choose correctly, you will be happy and satisfied in the line of work you do. Motivation would be easier to do. But to shape your career into something you want to accomplish, you need an action plan too.

Career development involves all that. And then, you should proceed according. If you have yet to take a college education, do it in a college that is recognized in the industry. This will make your chances of securing a job higher.

Career Development: Continued Growth in Your Career

Remember though that you have an ultimate goal in your career. That means securing a job is not enough. You have to ensure at least one vertical movement in every 1 to 2 years in your position. To ensure this, you should do some effort to make your boss notice your abilities and your potential. Showing a good record is important. Whenever possible, volunteer to help on tasks and projects that will showcase your skills for a higher position. You may even volunteer for seminars and conventions. This will not only increase your value in your company but your professional career as well.

On your own, you can take seminars, trainings and even internships to increase your skills and to prepare yourself for a higher position. Always equip yourself with the right qualifications and training so you will be considered for the job.

Shifting to a New Career

It's possible that you may feel a burnout in your current job. You may feel that you cannot take the stress anymore. Or, perhaps you want to spend more with your family. For some, they just got into a career because of financial difficulty.

These are reasons why people shift careers. This time, the most important question is whether you are willing to start your career all over again. And many times, this means starting at a lower level than where you are in your present career.

There would also be a lot of changes in terms of doing the job and in your daily routine. Will you be willing to make them and adjust to your new career? Even if you're willing, you should also check whether you are capable of making the changes. You must also be equipped to do the job. If not, you should plan for your education first before making the shift.

Making a career shift is a big step so it's also important that you get the support of your family and friends. This will make your shift easier to do and lead you to accomplish your goal faster.

Another important factor of career development is making the strategies and plans on how you can do the shift and how you can be reach your ultimate goal. Proper planning is always important but following it is also just as important if you want to achieve your dream career.

Victor Ghebre is the editor of Settinggoals101.com where you get practical tips and information on goal Setting [http://www.Settinggoals101.com], motivation, leadership and more.

Visit Career Goal Setting [http://www.settinggoals101.com/career-goal-setting.html] to learn how to set yourself up for success and get free tips on how to effectively communicate at work.

Copyright Notice: You are free to copy this article and publish it on your site, provided it remains intact and it includes the Personal info and active links below.

Get In Career Shape

Research suggests that as many as 8 out of 10 employed adults are in the wrong job or career! They are in poor career-shape or have little or no career-stamina.

If you are one of the 8 or your goal is to shape up, it is important to have a good understanding of some basic career management principles for a healthy career workout and to help you make the best decisions about your career on a day-by-day basis.

Career Fitness Tips

Here are 10 proven tips to maximize your career-workout:

Set Goals You Know You Can Reach. Keep your goals realistic. Unrealistic goals leave many people feeling like a failure even after a career success. Rather than feeling good about what has been accomplished, many feel dissatisfied because they have not yet attained their dream career. To manage your expectations, set reasonable goals that can be worked on and achieved.


Divide your career goals into manageable pieces. Bite off only what you can chew at any given moment. Resist the urge to multi-task when working on your career goals. If you overdo it and push yourself by trying to accomplish everything at once, you will become discouraged and lose your motivation.


Work On Your Goals One At A Time. Prioritize your career goals and then work to achieve the first one. Continue to tackle each subsequent goal by completing it before starting the next one. Before you know it you will have accomplished all of your career objectives.


Make Modest Changes To Your Work Habits. There are a number of "baby steps" you can take to advance your career. Instead of fantasizing about the perfect career, apply creative thinking and implement a few "quick wins" to boost your career.


Develop A Career Roadmap. A career roadmap helps you find the best route or direction to take to achieve your career objectives. List the actions you will take to ensure an interesting, challenging and rewarding career that uses your best strengths and natural talents.


Increase Your Focus. To stay challenged and to progress towards your ultimate career goal, gradually increase the intensity and focus your efforts as you follow your Career Roadmap.


Make It A "Whole-Person" Experience. Your career is more than just one or a series of jobs. A well-rounded career includes a balance of healthy personal relationships, work, and recreation (fun). To avoid boredom, make sure you include others who have a stake in your career and activities you truly enjoy.


Celebrate. Whenever you achieve a goal, do something nice for yourself. Make sure it's more than just a pat on the back or verbal acknowledgement; make it worthwhile.


Consult A Career Management Specialist. If you're serious about advancing your career, hire a professional to help you get the most from your career activities and to motivate you to stick with your plans.


Get A Career Fitness Partner. Find a mentor or colleague who is willing to be your career fitness partner. Choose someone who will motivate and challenge you when you want to quit. Or, form a support group with co-workers who share similar career interests.

As you begin to use these tips, they may at first feel burdensome. However, with a little effort and continued use, they will become second nature.

Althea DeBrule, entrepreneur and seasoned human resources executive, has focused for more than 30 years on helping people achieve their career goals. Creator of The Extreme-Career-Makeover? and a founding partner of RADSGroup Organizational Consultants, she is recognized for her bottom line and practical application of career development and management strategies in a way that penetrates hearts and compels action. She speaks and teaches with inspired talent, humor and contagious zeal at management conferences and leadership retreats nationwide, and has been featured in CFO Magazine, Strategy@Work, Human Resource Executive Magazine. Althea is the author of Bosses & Orchards, a compelling and candid book about how to make your work relationship with your boss succeed. To discover how you can take your career to a new level, visit http://www.extreme-career-makeover.com/