Developing a career is often misunderstood. It is an unpredictable path, but one you can still influence in a very positive way. Some people think that getting a career starts by doing the right course; and that then gets you the job you want. This is however a very simplistic and somewhat naive view of career development.
Building a Career is Complicated but anyone can do it if they are enlightened sufficiently, and prepared to accept and adapt to reality.
It is a mistake to think that getting their “dream” job or “career” is simply a matter of choosing and doing the right course; then everything will fall into place. This is a simplistic message, that gets pushed all too often by colleges, parents and others.
Success can be Complicated
If you understand how the world of employment really works though; you have a huge advantage – you won’t waste time & money doing things that simply won’t help you; your risk of failure will decrease and your likelihood of success will increase.
A career is a bit like walking along a windy path that you have never been on before.
You can’t see the end when you start; and it’s impossible to be fully aware of what is around the next turn even; but the only way to reach the end is to keep moving forward, no matter what the experience is along the way.
We all know that a career begins with learning something about the industry or discipline you are entering. At that starting point, most people will anticipate an “end point” to their journey, where they have a “dream” job, own a business, have become an expert, or are receiving employment rewards they have always aspired to, whether that be job satisfaction, financial rewards, happiness, security or something else.
What does a Career Development Path Look Like?
Imagine a curvy line - At one end is you, beginning your journey; and at the other end is you achieving your goal.
To traverse that curvy path may involve less than a couple of years, or more than a couple of decades.
No matter how long it takes though, there will always be a range of different stages that need to be moved though.
Stage 1.
The first stage is always to learn the fundamentals. That may happen by doing a foundation course, but there are lots of other ways people learn those fundamentals -for example, hobbies, informal learning (reading, watching educational TV, hobbies), voluntary work, internship, apprenticeship, etc. For some this stage may take years (eg. studying a diploma or degree) and for others it may happen much faster (a steep learning curve in a new job).
Stage 2.
The second stage is developing an awareness of options to move forward. Seeing the possibilities realistically for your future, will only be possible after you have a firm grasp on the fundamentals.
Sage 3.
The third stage is gaining experience, -expanding your ability to apply knowledge in an expanding variety of contexts. Through experience your perception of what is possible expands, your skills (physical and mental) sharpen; you get faster and better at doing things.
Stage 4.
The fourth stage is professional development – further learning (through more advanced courses, training, informal learning and experience), broadens and deepens your capacity to do the job, and your awareness to see and find career possibilities. For many, if not most people; this stage may take them off on tangents in directions they may not have anticipated.
Our courses (at ACS -see them on this web site), are designed for stages 1 and 4 and our staff are happy to chat with anyone any time about their career aspirations.