A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find
satisfacti on in his work (Ecc. 2:24).

Recent surveys in the workplace show that when people come to the
end of their career, many have no intention of looking back.
Nearly three out of four working people said they wish they had
explored more career options, according to a Gallup survey.
Another survey showed that almost half said they would have
chosen a different career if they knew then what they know now.

Why do so many people end up in the wrong line of work?

1  Many people fall into a job without any serious thought or
plan, reported the Gallup poll. Only about one in three said
they carefully chose their career. Others took what was
available at the time, acting on tips from friends, or ads.

2  Many build career strategies on shifting sand – choosing
their careers based on

what they excelled at in school or in
aptitude tests. So says a 12-year study in which Harvard
Business School tracked the careers of more than 650 business
professionals. People can excel in math and science, for
example, and not enjoy either. Skills and the demand for
those skills shift over time, but a person’s deepest
interests generally remain bedrock stable from early
adulthood on.

What to consider in your job search:

* What are your interests? What are the things you enjoy doing?
How can those interests be turned into income?

* What are your values? For example, if you’re driven by a
sense of service and you want to leave the world a better
place, forget becoming a spin doctor for politicians.
Instead, consider medicine, counseling, or ministry. And if
you value security more than the freedom to try creative
ideas, don’t launch your own business. Head for a workplace
less prone to change, such as a large corporation or the
federal government. Do you want to be the best you can
possibly be in your field? Are praise and recognition
important to you? Do you want the big bucks? If you can name
your values, you can make better choices.

Know when it’s time to leave. Life is too short to waste in
unfulfilling jobs. You have to care for your family, but you
shouldn’t settle for a job you dread going to each day. Answering
yes to most of the following questions is a clue to hit the road
running.

* Are continuing education opportunities withering and your job
skills getting stale?

* Are you and your boss clashing more often or with stronger
emotions?

* Is the freedom you have to do your job being eroded by
bureaucratic obstacles or control-minded supervisors?

* Is your company having money troubles?

* Are big changes ahead, such as administrative reorganization?

* Have you hit a dead-end in your salary or your
job-advancement opportunities?

* Are you out of the loop, and among the last to hear about
important decisions affecting you?

* Do you hate going to work?

* Is company morale lower than dirt?

* Are the brightest and best people leaving?

Categories: Articole de interes general