The Best Career Tip: Manage Your Career

I saw an ad for Monster.com, the web job-finding site, that I just had to share with you because it demonstrates the same philosophy I have when it comes to managing your career.

It was a simple ad (full page in a magazine) with a picture of an executive (woman), few words, and one, big headline. The headline:

You are the CEO of you.

Perfect. Just perfect.

This concept is what I (and others) have been talking about here at Free Money Finance. No one cares more about or has responsibility for your career other than you. You have to take control of your career and actively manage it -- no one else will. And if you don't, your career will be a fraction of what it could have been.

We've all talked about it in different ways, but it's the same thought. Check out these posts for various takes on the same topic:

• Free Money Finance Interview with Pamela Lenehan, Author of What You Don't Know and Your Boss Won't Tell You, Part 2 - Key quote: You need to manage your career. No one is going to do it for you.

• Review: Career Intensity by David Lorenzo - Key quote: The most important thing to remember about your career is that every day presents an opportunity to add something new to your personal portfolio. Every day, you have the opportunity to increase your personal equity. If you have the courage to market yourself and the desire to push forward down the path of continuous career improvement, you will be rewarded both financially and intrinsically.

• Free Money Finance Interview with David Lorenzo, Author of Career Intensity, Part 1 - Key quote: Each of us must take control of our career.  Our destiny is in our own hands.

I keep addressing this subject because your career (especially kicked off correctly with a college degree) is your most valuable financial asset. I suggest you review these posts and just see how important it is -- managing your career correctly can literally make millions of dollars of difference to you throughout your lifetime:

• Comments: Maximizing Your Greatest Asset: Why Your Career is So Important

• Comments: Maximize Your Career Earnings: Get a Degree and Manage Your Career

• How to Make a Million Dollars in Ten Years, Part 5: Career

• Maximize Your Career Earnings: Get a Degree and Manage Your Career

• Your Most Valuable Asset

Finally, for those of you looking to make the most of you careers, here's some guidance from Free Money Finance:

• 10 Ways to Get a Promotion

• Career Guidance: Do's and Don'ts of Quitting Your Job

• Career Guidance: To Get a New Job Stop Talking, Do Your Homework, and More!

• One Way to Find a Career that You'll Love

• The Art of the Raise

• Developing a Successful Career

Comments

[wpfreak]

Does anyone have constructive input on how often you should change jobs? Managing my career has been a constant project and at times means leaving after only 2-3 years with one organization. Coincidently Seth Godin's blog had a post (http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2006/06/time_to_quit.html) about quitting your job while you are ahead and when it feels almost premature. Thought?

[FMF]

Is the question how often you should switch jobs or when should you decide/look to move on?

[learning]

I understand you must manage your career.

What if you ended up in a job that wasn't what you expected and off track from one's career path. Some might say to leave, but what if you have been there for only 1 3 - 4 months? Isn't that a big no-no?

As part of managing your career one might view it as...well, glad that you realized early..cut your losses, and move on. However, it seems like this would cause problems with your boss/group and hiring managers would even raise a red flag

Thoughts?

[FMF]

Here's my two cents:

In today's environment, moving around is much more common than it was 20 years ago, so employers don't put as much (negative) emphasis on job shifting. That said, you can't move from job to job every few months for the last five jobs you've had. That's still a no-no.

But moving ONCE after a few months seems ok to me. You can explain it as a "bad fit" and potential employers will understand. However, make sure this doesn't become a habit and be SURE the place you're moving to is one that you can be at for awhile. Then, this one instance will look like what it is -- simply a case of a poor fit, not a reflection of a poor employee.

[learning]

Thank you FMF - That is where I am right now... Looking back, I think I rushed into this position without properly analyzing the long-term effects which resulted in a mis-fit and off-track from my career path.

I am glad to hear that companies understand a quick leave due to a mis-fit in positions, and I further understand it should only be done once before any red-flags are raise.

Thanks for the feedback.