by Joyce Jackson
http://careerenhanceonline.com
© 2006
Career Enhancement
Choosing a career is a hard decision to make. The decision and
choice you make will impact you for most of your life because
it sets a course for you for decades.
How do you make such a choice?
First, realize that since you make that choice
you can always make another one. In other words, you are not locked
into a single career for life. You can change your mind and your
direction at any time.
Whether you change your mind or stick with your
original
decision, you will want to advance and refresh your job and
career often. It’s called Career Enhancement and should be
a
part of any career plan and path.
Most professions require constant enhancement
of skills called
continuing education. Professional organizations typically
advertise programs and allocate credits for enhancement
courses.
If you are not in a professional organization
set up your own
career advancement program. It can be a simple class taken once
a year or a complete program over several weeks. What ever your
choice study your options and make judicious choices.
Then, do at least one class a year. If your employer
does not
pay for career enhancement programs, pay for them yourself and
attend.
After completing a class, update your progress
and resume
regularly. Keep a log of your classes, instructors and where
you attended them. The real value in this will unfold as you
prepare for your annual review, ask for a raise or promotion or
search for a new job.
It comes down to setting goals, planning a path
to those goals
and accomplishing them. Even if you are alone on your path you
can grow in your career.
Finally, take action. Make the first step toward
your career
enhancement goals even if you feel uncertain. Action opens all
kinds of unseen opportunities and clarifies issues once you get
going forward. Set your sights high, aim for your goals and take
action to move ahead towards successful career enhancement.
