Just what IS a good CareerFIT for you?
To achieve a good “fit” between you and any future opportunity, you have to ask yourself some basic questions about yourself and your prospective employers. The fit depends on how well the jobs meets your needs and how well your skills and abilities meet the employer’s needs. The employer will make a decision and extend an offer to you: now it is time for you to make your decision.
Write out the factors that are important to you in a job… actually write out your list. During your career transition, learn the value of setting your offer criteria, a key element of your Personal Market Plan:
- Creates an objective target for your efforts ahead;
- Gives you a meaningful set of questions to ask during research and networking;
- Provides an objective way to analyze and react to offers as they occur.
To manage your career wisely has you extending the same concept. Consider some of the factors listed below … Examine each factor through the questions listed – and then ask, “does this opportunity fit me?”
Work Requirements and Expectations: What is the next appropriate work for you? Is the work process or project oriented? If it’s process oriented, are the requirements and expectations clear? What kinds of projects will you work on? Will you work on one project at a time, or multiple projects? Are the projects long term or short term? Will you work on a project long enough to see the end result? Is it important to you to be able to see the project as a whole, including the result? Or will you be content to do the work without a big picture understanding?
Work Environment: Will the work space be a source of comfort and confidence for you? How formal or informal is the environment? Hectic, fast paced? Will you have the opportunity to have flex time, or to tele-commute? How many hours a week does the employer expect you to work? Will you have the freedom to wear casual clothes? What is a typical day like at the company you are considering? Would they allow a “trial visit” or at least a site visit?
Career Path: Is there a defined succession plan? What position(s) can you move to next? How long do new hires generally stay in the same job? How quickly do people get promoted? Are your opportunities for professional development well defined and available to you? Are mentors available?
Training and Personal Development: what kind of training will you get from the employer to do the job? What kind of training will you get to stay current in your area of interest? Are the answers to these two questions different? Does it matter to you if the answers are different?
This week Thursday, May 16th, we will focus on a strategic, more career-oriented, definition of FIT, answering your questions and concerns at each step of the way… we’ll also get in to collateral development: resumes, correspondence, etc
This is a great place to start for new-comers as the other Core Topics will follow in sequence… THIS WEEK’s Workshop… Achieving CareerFIT brings focus to those elusive decisions regarding positioning and targeting your efforts. The first five steps of the 12 step process, from assessment to beginning the evolution of your LinkedIn Profile, will be discussed.
Please SHARE THIS POST with your network… and let me know you’re planning to attend by filling out this quick RSVP… THX
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