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It's your career, are you in control?

By Stephanie C. Harper

Successful careers don't happen by accident - - they are deliberate! Much of the success depends on you. Or better said, it depends on your determination and willingness to make it happen.

Looking for employment is a task all by it self, which becomes easier when you have tools to win. Once you have determined what you want to do, you have to decide you will excel in it.

As a Career Coach, I am always amazed at how many clients have yet to research the difference between the words job and career.

When you understand what you are looking for, it's always easier to find. In many cases many words are interchangeable, but when it comes to ones career, this is not the case. Webster's dictionary describes:

job as odd or occasional pieces of work and
career as a field for pursuit of consecutive progressive achievement.

Job seekers have to move from the mindset of job seeker to career seeker and interview perspective employers to ensure they can offer more than just a paycheck.

When planning for a career with an organization, the offer must include consecutive progressive achievement. For the sake of this article, I'd like to unpack the words job and career. In the human resource industry the word j-o-b stands for just over broke, but let's unpack the word career:

C - choices. You are responsible for every choice you make - so make it count.

A - assessment. Assess your skill set and be sure you qualify for the positions you seek.

R - research. Researching an industry will save you time, money and frustration

E - explore. Explore all the possibilities. Don't be afraid to try something new.

E - execute. Before you can execute your plan, you must have one.

R - responsibility. You are responsible for creating your work life; shaping it instead of reacting to it.

There are many steps between your choice and your responsibility, but that's why it is your career and you are in control. The steps you take become the career you make.

So be mindful the career search is about you…your dreams, your goals, your aspirations, your accomplishments, and your desires. The beauty of understanding your career path starts with knowing you are the one in control.

It doesn't matter if you work for yourself or someone else, it's your career what are you doing with it?

© 2006 Stephanie C. Harper. All rights reserved.

Stephanie C. Harper, PHR, CCP, CHRM is an author, career expert and speaker. A 16-year human resource professional and employment expert for two Atlanta radio stations, she provides human resource consulting, career coaching and career planning services. Her books include Why Should I Hire You? and A Kingdom Built Career. For more information visit www.StephanieHarper.com or 404.299.8757 (U.S.)