A Job for your Career

 “Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it.” —Katherine Whitehorn

 

Often times we have all had moments of self reflection, sat down for hours plotting , planning and strategising. We have all experienced that 3:00 am “wake up brain call” where we feel energized to go out there and cease what we can define as “our dreams most of which are in form of defining our career life.”

I have come across quite a number of people who have succeeded in having their “thoughts” in such moments become a reality.

I have sat down day in day out throught this lockdown and asked myself , “HOW?”

How come they managed to actually dream and somehow worked towards achieving that?

I cannot say I have come up with just one conclusion or have had a eureka moment and discovered the secret behind them going all in , being fully aware of the risks , “What may or may not happen,” You name it and still taken the risk anyway. What I can say is that I have got a few things that can help you and I get to where they are.

Many of us tend to cling onto what life throws our way to define “our possible careers.”

Case scenario is someone named Leticia. Now Leticia has always had a dream of becoming a doctor or an engineer, she finished school , looked for jobs in that line of professionalism and ended up getting a job as an accountant at some bank because that is what was available. A few years down the road she forgot about her dream , her passion . She started telling everyone she would come across that she chose a career in Finance but deep down she knew she did not . In actual sense the job she got as an accountant chose a career for her. She in fact gave up really fast , got comfortable, she kept telling herself that the job market for what she had always wanted was a bit too complex and she got lazy to dive back in. So she stayed where Job “X” put her and made herself believe it is the career path she had always wanted, not seeking any growth or any sort of promotion to grow that which she had settled into.

Through this lock down , after pondering and asking around, I chose not to be the Leticia in my story.It is safe to say that I have learned about the difference between a career and a job , what makes one feel like a burden and the other like a vacation atop the Titanic that will never sink.

Research shows that, “A job is work you perform to earn money to support your basic needs. It can be full-time or part-time and may be short-term. You might earn an hourly wage or a set paycheck rather than a salary with benefits. You might need to learn certain skills connected with that role, but not all jobs require a specialized degree or advanced training.“

“Companies expect their employees to perform their individual jobs in exchange for regular payment and to be responsible for the duties laid out for them.“

“You can also define a job as a short- or long-term contract between an employer and a worker. For instance, a company hires a local contractor to complete an office renovation job. They agree upon payment terms, and the job ends once the project is complete.“

While ,”A career is a long-term professional journey you may determine based on your passions. It is the path you embark upon to fulfill your professional goals and ambitions. You may require a certain level of education or training to achieve these goals. Individuals pursuing careers often have set salaries with benefits such as stock options, retirement plans, pensions and bonuses. They also gain benefits beyond money, such as personal pride, work satisfaction and self-worth.“

“A career might last for your entire life. You could hold numerous jobs under many employers in your chosen industry that you progress through during your career.“

Many times we confuse the jobs we are hired into as our “careers” and we get very comfortable. In one way or another we may be right , but to a greater extent we are wrong. This is why;

• Jobs make up your career: A career consists of all the jobs you have worked, regardless of whether they are associated with each other. You could spend decades working a job in the same department of one organization. Alternatively, you could work many seemingly unrelated jobs over your lifetime, such as a receptionist , executive assistant and information technology specialist, an engineer you name it. They all define your career and can connect you with other opportunities you are passionate about. Think of jobs as the short-term duties that can help you achieve your long-term goals i.e your career

• You learn from each job: Every job you take teaches you lessons you can apply to future jobs. You will also gain a variety of skills, knowledge and experiences. For instance, maybe your job as a customer support agent taught you how to handle difficult situations with tact. Your receptionist position may have taught you good communication and customer service skills. Other roles might help develop your writing skills, develop your ability to handle rejection or teach you the value of perseverance and hard work.

• Jobs provide you with networking opportunities: With each job, you build a network and community of professional contacts. If you maintain a productive and professional relationship with all your colleagues and clients you can provide yourself with the ability to reach out to these connections throughout your career.

• Hard work pays off: Your current job could affect your career in unexpected ways. For this reason, try to go beyond doing the bare minimum. A positive outlook, an eagerness to learn and consistently high-quality work can set you apart, create new opportunities and earn you recommendations for future jobs.

If your aim is to have a career, you can work toward meeting that long-term goal. These strategies can help;

• Continue learning and developing: Always aim to enhance your skills and knowledge. If you know what career path you want to pursue, figure out what expertise and experience you need to get there. Once you are aware of the requirements, seek to develop your qualifications whether through practice in your current job or through formal training, online courses and education. When trying to determine which skills will benefit your career most, look to successful professionals in that industry. Ask yourself what their strengths, talents or accomplishments are. Reach out to individuals with similar careers, and ask for their advice.

• Get a mentor: If possible, seek out a mentor or two with an upper-level position or experience in your desired field. Ask if they will consider supporting and advising you professionally. While working with a mentor, you may plan specific questions to ask or topics to discuss, like career development. Consider your mentor’s path and whether a similar one could work for you.

• Expand your network: Workshops, conferences, seminars and social events can be great places to meet professionals in your field. You can expand your network to have more resources for sharing experiences, learning, gaining advice and gaining job recommendations.

• Apply for an internship: Building experience in your career field, even if it is an internship, can help you advance or break into that sector. If you are currently working as an information technology consultant but desire a career in the publishing industry, for instance, you may seek educational or certification opportunities then look for internships that can help you gain editing or production experience.

Jobs and careers are interconnected, as a lifetime of jobs makes up the career you choose. Most people start at the bottom with an entry-level or low-paying job before progressing through different jobs in their industry to gain the experience needed to meet their long-term goals. The skills and knowledge you develop in each role can contribute to success in your career.

Remember that there will be great failures and successes at the beginning , if you fail even once and give up , you will be robbing yourself of a career that you could have had.

Failure should never be the mark that lets you throw in the bucket , failure should be the bigger push for a bigger come back , ALWAYS.

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” —Michael Jordan

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” —Thomas A. Edison

And do not forget to have the dream.

“Dreams are extremely important. You can’t do it unless you imagine it.” —George Lucas

All my Love,

Dee.

“Don’t forget to dream again- always.”