Getting your player ready...
Though most people acknowledge the importance of having a job, many do not recognize the importance of occupying the right job.
If a job is not chosen carefully, it could lead to an unpleasant, unproductive tenure and prove detrimental to your career. A bad choice could mean being sidetracked or inviting a black mark to be placed on the critical employment record.
Due to the importance of job choice, it is necessary to evaluate yourself in terms of the market. You must know how you fit in so you can best benefit yourself and your career.
Four guidelines should be observed in arriving at a successful choice:
1. Never take jobs that don’t fit in with career aims.
2. Plan to stay four to five years in a job.
3. Choose exposure over positions which promise less visibility.
4. Choose organizations that think as you do.
By examining job possibilities in terms of these criteria, you should be able to further clarify job aims and implement a reasonable plan to attain these goals.
It is wise to first investigate the total picture – what are your ultimate career objectives? Where do you want to go? Only by establishing a destination can you plot a course to reach it. Jobs should act as stepping stones to the determined goal. One question to ask of a job is, “How will it get me closer to my goal?” That does not necessarily mean the imposition of a schedule (i.e., “I want position X in seven-and-a-half years.”) The idea is to help yourself without being hard on yourself.
The danger arises in taking a detour. Such a move not only delays attainment of your goal but it could make it difficult for you to even return to the right path.
When interest shifts from one area to another, whether it be due to an initial mistake or not, you upset the expectations of the market. The person employed as a management trainee at a fast food restaurant will find that the position is not a springboard to international finance. Selecting an inappropriate path may prove disadvantageous both in delaying your progress and in giving employers the wrong impression about you.
You should plan on acceptable tenures for each job. Four to five years is commonly considered right, not too long, not too short. Either extreme could mean the weakening of your job record. If you stay too long in one position, it may be assumed that you were not able to handle extended responsibilities or had no motivation to tackle them. You may acquire a “one company” label. Though such a designation was valued 20 years ago, it is less highly regarded today. Most prospective employers prefer the person who has served respectable tenures – the four-to-five-year span already noted – and who has a background of experience in several industries.
If you do not stay long enough, you may be branded as a jobhopper, which is negative. Those doing the hiring are inclined to reason that you were either unable to handle the position’s duties or could not get along with co-workers.
Short tenure also evokes the image of an irresponsible employee, one who simply cannot hold down a job and is prone to being released. By taking a risk on a job that does not work out, you may unwittingly be tainting your prospects in the future. Listen to any misgivings you may have when evaluating a job.
Exposure within the job is another critical factor. You should be visible and preferably located at corporate headquarters rather than a branch office. One major consideration is whether the company has a “personality” similar to yours. It is important that the organization think like you.
Because job-related decisions are crucial, you should not act on impulse but rather proceed according to a larger plan. Question whether the job will help you attain an ultimate goal. By choosing wisely, it is possible to avoid many of the pitfalls which may hinder advancement. When you place yourself on the right track in a company where you fit in, the hazards of discharge and dissatisfaction with a job are lessened.
