Career Continuation is a Lifestyle for a Lifetime!

P.H.D. Perspective By Stephanie C. Harper

Attracting the most qualified employees and matching them to the position for which they are best suited is important for any organization. Equally important is an individual who approaches a career knowing what to expect from it. Planning for a career can seem like an exhaustive endeavor, but it is key to becoming and remaining gainfully employed. The investment made can mean all the difference between personal failure or success.

In a professional world, it is not enough to just do your work and be successful. Many people find themselves going to work and do not enjoy the work they do. Often because of a lack of planning or going into a career that someone else found success in. The average American spends well over 2,000 hours per year at work. That is a lot of time to invest in anything. It’s alarming to know the amount of “professional” people who have never sought the advise of a career planner or counselor to assist them in planning for a career that will allow them to reach the desired peak of success. Anyone can work a job, but a career takes planning.

A few things to consider when career planning are:

• the nature of work – handling all aspects of a position or working on team completed projects

• working conditions – working in an office, outside or from home

• careers by occupational specialty – business, health, social, management and educational services account for 46 percent of jobs; personnel supply services account for almost 10 percent of jobs; manufacturing accounts for nearly 13 percent of jobs; while finance, insurance and real estate firms account for about 11 percent of jobs – the remaining 10 percent are self employed.

• training and certifications – some careers require more technical or specialized backgrounds in engineering, science, finance or law, for example. As in many other fields, knowledge of computers and informational systems also is useful.

• advancement opportunities – An advanced degree is increasingly important for some careers.

• job outlook – In addition to growth, many career openings will arise from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.

• earning potential — salaries are slightly higher in areas where prevailing local pay is higher. Applicants must possess a suitable combination of educational attainment, experience and record of accomplishment.
Career continuation is a lifestyle for a lifetime. It doesn’t stop with a job offer. It’s imperative to your success to invest in your future. As a human resource professional, it’s appalling how much people will pay to seek guidance for credit repair, weight loss, finances, marriage, stock, etc. Why not invest in your career? That’s the P.H.D. Perspective.

Stephanie C. Harper, founder and executive director of P.H.D. Staffing Strategies in Atlanta, GA. For more information on Career Planning or Career Strategies, contact the offices of P.H.D. Staffing Strategies at 404-246-7247. •