Giving Your Career a Physical Examination
Is your career
in good shape? Do you feel invigorated at your job? Do you feel healthy coming
to work each day, knowing that your hard work is paying off, improving your prospects
for the future? In the same way a long distance runner improves his or her cardiovascular
system with each run, a properly exercised career will carry you further than
a slothful one. A yearly career check-up will help determine whether your current
job is the best one available for you, or whether it's time to flex your employment
search muscles. Regardless of title or industry, professionals who take time out
on a periodic basis to evaluate and plan their careers will advance faster, earn
more money, and stay ahead of their peers in their personal and professional development.
When was the last
time you took the pulse on your career? In the midst of the great wave of change
in industries such as healthcare and information systems, what part of the wave
are you on? Will you ride proudly on the crest, letting the wave carry you forward
into your future, or will your career be crushed by the rough waves of change?
There are a number of questions to ask when you give your
career a thorough physical examination. It is important to periodically take
time and distance to answer these queries objectively and carefully.
Here are some of
the important questions to ask when you take a vacation day or a long weekend.
Take the time to write down your answers. We suggest starting with a new spiral
notebook or blank book. Like any journal process, the more time you put into
this exercise, the more you will get out of it. Spend at least five minutes
answering each question before going on to the next. A quick mental check will
not serve you as well as some deep thought and a long writing session.
- Are your
skills and abilities being well used in your job? Do you feel challenged
on a daily basis? Weekly? At all? Do you feel under-utilized?
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- How long
have you been in your present position? Are you still learning? Are
you making a contribution to your company's growth and profitability?
How long have others in similar positions been in their jobs? Have you
been passed over for promotions? Are you recognized for your achievements
and rewarded for merit?
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- To whom
do you report? Is he or she well regarded in your company? Are they
spending time with you to further develop your skills? Does your manager
perceive you as promotable? If they move up in the organization, will
you be promoted as well?
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- Are you
listened to? Do your superiors or your co-workers ask for your opinions?
Do your honest appraisals or complaints get handled to your satisfaction,
or do they fall on deaf ears?
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- How does
your compensation or pay compare to your peers within your company,
or within similar companies in the area? Have you been given raises
each year of at least double the rate of inflation? At what salary levels
are new employees coming in? Does the company provide benefits such
as educational reimbursement, profit sharing, 401-k savings-matching
programs, or stock options?
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- Is your
company staying on top of the changes in your field? Is it known as
an innovator? Does top management communicate with and take input from
the rank and file?
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- Is your
organization resting on past performance, or is it actively dedicated
to research and development and marketing of new products or services?
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- Is your
company known as customer-service oriented? Is the company vision communicated
clearly and regularly within the organization? Are most employees aligned
with the company vision statement, or are they cynical about the company
which spouts a philosophy but doesn't live up to it?
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- Do your
existing career options lead to your ultimate career goals? Do you have
a clear plan of where you want to go in the organization? Do you (and
your boss) have a career progress plan set out for you? Have you examined
other career options?
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The
answers to these questions will help you determine whether your position with
your company is a healthy one for your career.
If you are finding
your job challenging, are learning new skills and gaining new experiences, and
your company is working to stay on the cutting edge of technology and the services
provided to your customers, you are in good shape for the future. If you have
been promoted at least once every two years, and you are listened to when you
express yourself about the company's problems, needs, or direction, and management
responds to complaints or problems by fixing what is wrong, you are in an excellent
environment which is supporting your future growth.
If you find that
most of your answers are negative, it is time for you to examine your goals,
write a new resume, and begin looking for alternatives. There are many excellent
books in the business section of bookstores which can guide you in your search
for a new job. Do your homework, prepare yourself well, and find an opportunity
that will get you excited to wake up every morning.