12/31/07 6:00 AM

New Year Often Met with Wish for New Career

SHRM Online staff

The start of a year can be an ideal time to reflect on changes that are needed to refresh a career, but hasty decisions should be avoided, according to experts at Right Management consulting firm.

“Take time to consider your unique strengths, skills and interests to ensure you are doing what you do best,” said Douglas J, Matthews, president and COO for Right Management. “With this focus, you'll be prepared to consider ways you can better leverage your talents and identify career paths—whether within your current organization or with another employer—and then begin to map a plan of action.”

Matthews recommends that people take a hard look at a number of things to help evaluate their career. For example, everyone should assess their:

• Level of satisfaction. “If you're not happy in your role or with your employer, a job change may be something to consider. You may want to examine changing industries [and] job functions, or consider getting the education you need to do this.”

• Skills and abilities. “People whose skills, abilities and interests are at their highest [levels] perform at the top of their games and get the most satisfaction out of the work they do.”

• Employer's financial outlook. “It is important to consider how well your employer is performing financially and what the economic future looks like. Are sales, market share and head count increasing or decreasing? Is your employer an innovator in its field and competitive in its industry?”

• Professional development opportunities. “Are you satisfied with your current career path? Has your career been moving forward, laterally, standing still, or are you being bypassed for promotions and choice assignments?”

• Career net worth. “Career net worth is the value the market places on your unique abilities and knowledge. Continually building your skills, knowledge and technical expertise creates demand, keeps you competitive and generates the highest career net worth.”

• Opportunities for 2008. “In this dynamic global market, it is critical to be able to effectively manage changes. Don't neglect actively building and maintaining your network. Great places to make new networking contacts include people from both your personal and professional lives, trade and industry groups, and community organizations. Keep in touch regularly to strengthen those relationships.”

But, Matthews cautioned, “Be sure you don't make impulsive, snap decisions based on only one or two factors, such as a recent disagreement with your manager or a smaller-than-anticipated raise or bonus. Decisions about whether to change jobs or careers need to be based on a complete picture, and not just one incident. The grass isn't always greener.”