Career planning and what works best? Rachel and I are almost polar opposites when it comes to career planning and yet we get on well with each other. We have even helped people in shaping their careers. Surely, we can’t both be right?
They say ‘opposites attract’ and maybe it’s true! We have both taken completely different approaches to our careers and we both believe the direction we took was right – but only for ourselves individually.
Rachel likes to plan things in detail, always filling up notebooks and we are often discussing how best to achieve certain things. This is all very well but for myself, I tend to walk around with these things in my head. This has been known to drive other people mad but it works for me.
Two types of career planning – which is which?
a) The wise planner
Firstly, you could decide to take careers advice early on, while still at school and this will help you decide what to do with your life. Then there are all kinds of psychological tests you can do which may help you decide. This has to be very rational and logical.
It also has the makings of being on a career pathway, you know which direction you’re heading. You can work out what qualifications or training you might need, know how much money you might earn, whether you need to be employed or set up your own business and so on. You probably value having some security, knowing where you will be in a few years time. You might even plan well ahead so you can retire while you’re still quite young!
b) The carefree approach
Alternatively you could take a very laid back approach. You can get training or work in a field which interests you, see if you like it and where it might go. You can be open minded about where it takes you but you might have to make-do with whatever money you can earn – either low wage or, just maybe, become a multi-millionaire. You might flit from one job to another, one profession to something else and never make it very far up the career ladder. On the other hand, you might be confident in yourself, open to opportunities, looking for some spontaneous fun steps which could make your life interesting.
Both of these approaches can work well but I think it depends on what you want to achieve and what kind of person you are. You can probably tell I’m the relaxed, laid back one. Let me tell you why it’s been good for me:
- My career has been very rewarding and interesting, full of ups and downs, twists and turns. Looking back, I did alright.
- Once I got offered a job without even wanting it or applying for it, it came completely out of the blue. I said yes there and then. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made!!!!!
- I enjoyed thinking “I wonder what will happen today at work?” although sometimes I shuddered as I saw certain emails from my manager arrive in my inbox (he only emailed me when he was cross about something). That phone ringing on my desk was always full of intrigue.
- I once went off to see a prison in Sweden (I had got involved in a research project). This was rather unplanned, very short notice and I didn’t even tell my manager. It did cause a few raised eyebrows when I submitted my monthly expenses.
- I used to be quite good at trading work, things I didn’t like or felt able to do were swapped for more interesting things. Sometimes I felt as if I had the best job, anywhere.
- I enjoyed developing new things, being imaginative, taking some risks. Making connections, nurturing and enhancing those working relationships was something I was quite good at. Again I drove my manager up the wall but it did work quite well at times. Another manager who I had earlier in my career encouraged me to do all of these things, she trusted me but I didn’t really appreciate that as much at the time.
- Many times I found myself in some fascinating groups, meetings and working parties at times, again much to my manager’s annoyance
- Over the years, I like to think I’ve done some good work which made a difference
Health warning?
I could never encourage anyone to take a care-free approach to their career, it is a bit risky. That doesn’t mean its wrong for anyone, it is simply more risky and less secure. However, it does mean less disappointment if things don’t go exactly to plan and arguably it depends on your character, how much certainty you need in life.
One of my friends is a train driver and has been for most of his working life. He covers the same route, day in day out, year in, year out. That would drive me crazy, I wouldn’t cope. And yet for him, it has represented a good salary, a good pension pot and for him that has been most important.
The world needs people like my train driver friend. We need those dependable people to keep the world on track (terrible pun, sorry). I would argue the world also needs scatterbrained people like me, willing to take a few risks, willing to be illogical about things. Isn’t that how brilliant things happen, almost by accident?
So there’s my ramble on different approaches to careers. Happily my paid career finished 3½ years ago but I often find myself thinking about work.
As for the Council hot desk and worn out keyboard, out of frustration I tried to throw it out of the window, except the damn thing wouldn’t open….
Thoughts and comments welcome.