How to Plan a Career 11: Within Your Current Company

This continues our series about how to plan a career that will bring happiness & satisfaction

Understanding your favorite skills, your occupational values, your interests, and job titles can help plan a new career, change careers, or plan a career within your current company. You may need additional education or training to improve your status within the company. If so, get it.

To enhance your satisfaction, you still want to compare internal opportunities to your employer description. If not, you may end up somewhere in the company that will leave you unhappy or unsatisfied..

Keep Control of Your Career

Most people dislike their job and would like to make a change. Frequently, they relinquished control of their career to the company. They accept promotions without thought. Sometimes, they stay in the same position waiting for something to happen, rather than making it happen.

So keep control of your career even within the same company. Follow the steps outlined below:

1. Ensure you know what you want as you outlined in your employer description
2. Identify the options within the company for your next change and the one after
3. Build relationships and connections within the company

Identify the Options Within the Company

Consider the following options as you plan a career within your company:

• Upward promotion if such possibilities exist in the organization
• Additional responsibilities within your current position tend to impress management
• Project teams offer opportunities for growth, challenge, and fulfillment
• Lateral transfers provide change and new adventures within the company
• Special assignments present possibilities to build your reputation and visibility
• Skunk works give research oriented or creative people abilities to grow
• Mentoring new employees or new team members adds stature and competence
• Support functions such as sales, marketing, IT, or human resources may suit you

Build Relationships and Connections Within the Company

Identify the project managers, team leaders, and operations managers over the opportunities that interest you. Find ways to show them your ability and impress them you can do the job they want done.

Join me on Friday when we explore building corporate relationships within the company