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Career Choices
by: Scott Christianson

In this quickly changing competitive market it's important to make the right decisions in career choices for your life goals.

Question you need to ask yourself:

1.      How can I advance my career in the position that I now hold?
2.      What are my options to change employers in the future?
3.      Will the employer I work for offer me the same dedication they expect from me?
4.      What are the possibilities the position I now hold will be outsourced to another organization or country?
5.      Will the salary I make allow me to enjoy retirement in the future?
6.      Is my career choice in an industry that is growing or shrinking?
7.      Is my career choice something I am willing to do for the next 20-30 years?
8.      Where can I find more information about career choices?
9.      What are the Top 10 outsource safe careers in the market today?
10.  How do I market myself to achieve my career goals?
11.  Career and Personality Assessment Tests.
                     IMapMyLife
                     Myers-Briggs
                     Your Lifes Path
                     CareerTest
                     CareerTest.net

How can I advance my career in the position that I now hold?

Knowledge is Power, but Networking builds opportunities.  Both of these is true, getting a firm understanding of your companies goals and needs and being available to help the company achieve its' goals is by far one of the most important areas to focus on.  However making sure people understand you are the one contributing to the achievement of those goals can make you stand out in the crowd, don't me shy.  Also making sure that the people around you, know you, know your contributions and know that you are willing to take on new challenges and responsibilities will usually get you in the attention you need.

Networking-Networking-Networking

Not only within your organization but with outside groups as well will help you build your reputation.  Several executives have said they hated golf, but the CFO, CEO, and other leaders played it on a weekly basis, don't be afraid to take up a activity that you may not like, it may get you around the people that can really make a difference in your career achievements; one comment this writer has heard over and over again is that more decisions have been made on the golf course than have ever been made in a boardroom.

What are my options to change employers in the future?

Is your career specialized or generalized?

Will the employer I work for offer me the same dedication they expect from me?

Usually this is a questions that may be answered from simply understanding the company philosophy and its' true actions.  Unfortunately, there are many companies out there that spout “We Promote and Hire from Within” this can usually be determined very quickly at any organization by just being aware of the changing personnel in an organization.  Be aware of your surroundings.  If you notice a constant change in the employee structure at your organization, you may be at a “Churn and Burn” company, unless you own the company or are one of the executives, get out now.

What are the possibilities the position I now hold will be outsourced to another organization of country?

This is one of the scariest areas of a career decision in today's market.  With companies constantly looking for new ways to save money and cut costs, look at your own position and ask these questions.  Can my work be performed at a remote location on the other side of the world, if the answer is “Yes”.  Then your position could be outsourced and you'll have to face the fact that many companies don't have the dedication to the US market when it comes to cutting costs.  Sadly enough, it can be a “no brain er” for some decision makers to think; if we can get the same result by paying someone in a third world country paying $250 per week compared to paying $1200 per week in the US, why shouldn't we outsource.  This will and is coming back to bite many organizations, because they are finally seeing that they are also losing there customer base due to the current high unemployment.

Will the salary I make allow me to enjoy retirement in the future?

This is one of the biggest mistakes people make in career choices, if a company is not willing to care for your future; you're the only one that can make a difference.  Learn to live within your means.  This might mean not having all the pretty things the stores have to offer, set aside a savings plan for retirement, if you can't pay cash for the things you want; maybe you really don't need it.  Remember life in most cases is a long race, follow the example of the “Rabbit and the Hare”, you're the one who has to cross the finish line.

Is my career choice in an industry that is growing or shrinking?

With technology advancing the way it is this can be a very difficult question to answer.  Like the alternate energy areas, this industry has expanded and contracted partly due to public opinion and the grip the oil industry has placed on price fixing, when oil prices hit $126 per barrel in June of 2008, many were talking about and investing in alternate fuel sources, when the price drop to $33 per barrel in January of 2009 investor quickly recanted their positions.  Today, due to the group conscience of most Americans alternate energy sources and efforts are probably here to stay. 

You are the only one who can really determine whether your industry is on an upswing.

Is my career choice something I am willing to do for the next 20-30 years?

This is an area you really have to look at hard.  What is your goal, what excites you, and what you love to do?

A lucky man once told me about his job and said “I love every minute of it, I'm excited to go to work every time, its' fun”   Hopefully you can find a position much like this one, but you have to answer several questions for yourself.  Do I really love what I am doing?  Does it excite me? Does it challenge me? Hopefully you already found that position, if not, dig deep into your mind and heart and find what really excites you.  Even if can't make the money you would like to make, would you be happy?  Sometimes, LESS is MORE.

Where can I find more information about career choices?

We have listed several career areas you can research; some of the best areas for reference material is the Bureau of Labor Statistics , The Daily Galaxy , and Career Guides for the Future

What are the Top 10 outsource safe careers in the market today?

This is a very difficult question to answer, and none of the answers have a true guarantee.  Here are some questions to ask; can the job be performed sitting at a desk, can the job be performed working at a computer, can the work be performed answering a phone, does the position require no face to face interaction.  If any of the answers are yes, the position has the ability to be outsourced.

According to respected organizations the following career areas would least likely be outsourced to other countries; CEO, Medical, Teaching, Security, Government, Defense, Restaurant and Catering, Retail Sales, Automotive Service, Electrician, HVAC, Plumber, Veterinarian careers and real estate sales.  For the sake if being informative here is a link that offers information on some of the US companies that are the biggest outsourcers in the industry today at LovetoKnow .

How do I market myself to achieve my career goals?

As mentioned earlier in this article Networking is one of the keys to acquiring the position you want.  As in the past 20% of positions are filled through job posting and classified ads, the other 80% are acquired though people you a acquainted with, so get out and meet people in the same industry you are interested in.  This can be accomplished by going to social events, user group meetings, religious and volunteer organizations, online social networks like LINKEDIN, SPOKE and others.  Secondly, don't be shy when it comes to writing about your accomplishments in your resume or CV, the one thing most employers do not what to see in the intro statement or your resume is that you are seeking a position that will allow to expand on your past experience, yawn.  Their requirement are “What can this person do for our organization”, do your research.  Finally, to really be a mover and shaker in industry today it is imperative that you stay abreast of the changes in your market and always seek new and better ways to keep yourself educated.
 

 

 

 
 

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