Give Your Career A New Lease On Life
Career Management, professional developmentThe beginning of a new year is usually the perfect time for beginnings. Most people kick it off by resolving to do things differently this year versus the previous one. Others simply set goals to accomplish during the next 12 month period. Whatever the time of year, consider this moment the start of a new career year for you–one in which you will focus on your job and give it a new lease on life!
Traditionally we tend to think that career expectations are for the young and upcoming professional or executive age 25 to 30. Not anymore…everyone should be re-evaluating career and life plans-regardless of age.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, workers age 45 and older provide a valuable resource to an ever-changing 21st century American workforce. To competitively position themselves in the marketplace, many employers are developing and implementing programs to attract and retain older or vintage workers. As corporations engage in long-term planning to determine future workforce needs, more and more attention is being given to filling the gaps in the labor force caused by retirement of vintage workers.
A New Lease on Life
The conventional career development model of education first…employment next…retirement last has become old-fashioned. Instead, workers have new attitudes toward work. These attitudes are not determined by age but by a continual need throughout life to add value, fit in, exert influence, and reach new levels of excellence..
Career development is being given a new lease on life with an abundance of opportunities to revitalize and improve career outlooks, and to view jobs as vehicles for self-expression and growth. Career decision making is being seen as a series of continuous choices across one’s life span…not a once-in-a-lifetime event.
The New Career-Minded Professional
The trend toward longer, healthier life spans is resulting in greater emphasis on synchronizing leisure, work and learning activities throughout life. As a result, the definition of career-minded professional has changed to include the following categories of workers:
—The mature worker who is interested in remaining in the workforce after reaching traditional retirement age.
—Workers who have labored for years in one career field and know it’s time for a change. They may know what they want to move away from, but not what they want to move toward.
—Vintage workers who wish to “re-career” by changing career fields completely or radically redirecting their careers using the experience base they’ve acquired.
—Experienced workers who feel unfulfilled in mid-career and see no way out.
9 Ways to Jumpstart Your Career
To take full advantage of the career opportunities that will come your way this year, consider taking at least one or (if you’re stouthearted) all of the following steps:
- Take a realistic look at any planned career transition. Weed out any discrepancies that exist between your career expectations and the realities of your job or profession.
- Assess your capacity for change. Determine if you are ready for any job or career transitions at this point in your life.
- Develop a plan to sustain your energy and commitment especially when you are tempted to give up.
- Determine how you will deal with ambiguity, new career demands and challenges, and any emotions caused by career transition.
- Explore your hobbies and interests to see if they can be developed into potential career opportunities.
- Exercise your mind and body to cultivate a healthy lifestyle.
- Implement actionable strategies to take advantage of any new career opportunities that may unfold.
- Experiment and take risks to create new career options that offer unique advantages or prospects. Plan for contingencies and surprises.
- Find ways to match blend or fit career changes into your every day life.
