Some common misconceptions about career management:
- I already have a job. Just having a job does not guarantee a lifetime of salary and perks. You will need to work hard at upgrading your work skills.
You should also build a strong network within your workplace so that if you are given a pink slip, a colleague or your former boss could help you secure a new job.
- My job is secure. No job is secure. Your company could shut down due to mismanagement or lack of funds, or you could be forced to transfer to another branch.
Either way, you would be back in line, looking for a new job. Be alert to any changes in your workplace and have a plan ready in case you suddenly need to look for a new job.
- I will not qualify for the job. If your potential employer sees that spark in you, then you might still be preferred over a better-qualified individual.
There is no harm in trying for a job that might seem slightly out of reach. Your interviewer might look for honesty, motivation, and loyalty, among other things, when you are being interviewed. – I am the best. Overconfidence can harm your career. This attitude will close your mind to the help your colleagues or your supervisors can give you.
In order to manage your career, it pays to be humble and caring.
- I just do not have the time to upgrade my skills. Unfortunately, this is a very common attitude.
The truth is that you need to take time to attend workshops or conferences or additional classes to keep your skills up to date and to add new ones. This is very important if you want to achieve advancement in your career.
- My mentors have advised me to stick to one job. In the past, people stuck to one job for years, sometimes even to retirement. Nowadays, with a host of new opportunities opening up in a wide range of fields, people no longer stick to just one job, but keep seeking better opportunities.
If you are comfortable in current position and see potential for growth, then it is better to stick to the job; but if you are discontent in your current job due to undue pressures and see no potential for future growth, then it might be better for you to consider other options.
- I keep changing jobs because of higher salaries. Remember that whenever you change a job, it goes on your record. If you are constantly changing jobs only because of higher salaries, then you might find it difficult to go back to your old job if you find that the grass was not greener on the other side.
If you get a reputation for being unstable or of only being in it for the money, you may find yourself in a position where no one will be willing to hire you.
You need to constantly monitor the path your career is taking as well as your company since whenever anything good or bad happens to your company, it will affect you.
For your part, you should work hard at maintaining a good network and be constantly evolving in order to manage your career well.
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions – Six Sigma Online (http://www.sixsigmaonline.org) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Jacowski
