Personal Goals
Interesting that Pops suggested a post on this topic. I've been feeling a bit of angst lately about this, or more specifically, about career goals.
I went to a training seminar this past weekend in Bellevue. It got me thinking about my "career" or lack thereof.
Since I first took this job in January, I was excited because it was my first REAL, adult job out of college. I considered it the first step in my career and thought it would position me well for the future. But now as I reexamine the word "career," I don't think it quite fits the bill. To me, a career is the path that you're on in your work life, from where you started to where you want to be. I see it as a positive thing, as something you are excited to work hard for, and in return it will be quite rewarding. But I'm not finding that to be my case.
Maybe I'm taking it too literally. I know not every job is ideal, and some just plain suck. At the very least I should be grateful I have a job where I am financially secure and appreciated. But the point I'm trying to make is that there's much lacking. I'm not exactly "going places"; I'm barely even mobile. The only other position above mine is the marketing manager, a position that takes years and years of experience and industry know-how to reach. I spend 75% of my day doing absolutely nothing, hardly being productive or industrious. What purpose am I even serving here? What purpose would I serve anywhere?
I've decided that it comes down to my lack of goals--specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely goals. I don't know what I'm doing here because I can't see the big picture--I don't even have a big picture. I only have this vague impression of my future: To be with a marketing/public relations firm. But doing what? I don't have a degree in marketing or public relations. That's where my job experience has been, but what exactly do I need to be doing NOW or in the near future to push me in that direction? Do I even know enough about it to have it be a specific goal or driving force?
Lately I've been wishing I had some sort of a career counselor to help me out, or that I knew someone in the field who could guide me along, help me define my goals, and show me how to get there. I've thought about setting up appointments with HR people in the larger firms I'd like to work for to see what kind of positions are out there and what it would take to get one in the future. I also would like to talk to my boss to see what more I could be doing around here to keep me busy and make me feel like I am doing something worthwhile.
Any advice?
I went to a training seminar this past weekend in Bellevue. It got me thinking about my "career" or lack thereof.
Since I first took this job in January, I was excited because it was my first REAL, adult job out of college. I considered it the first step in my career and thought it would position me well for the future. But now as I reexamine the word "career," I don't think it quite fits the bill. To me, a career is the path that you're on in your work life, from where you started to where you want to be. I see it as a positive thing, as something you are excited to work hard for, and in return it will be quite rewarding. But I'm not finding that to be my case.
Maybe I'm taking it too literally. I know not every job is ideal, and some just plain suck. At the very least I should be grateful I have a job where I am financially secure and appreciated. But the point I'm trying to make is that there's much lacking. I'm not exactly "going places"; I'm barely even mobile. The only other position above mine is the marketing manager, a position that takes years and years of experience and industry know-how to reach. I spend 75% of my day doing absolutely nothing, hardly being productive or industrious. What purpose am I even serving here? What purpose would I serve anywhere?
I've decided that it comes down to my lack of goals--specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely goals. I don't know what I'm doing here because I can't see the big picture--I don't even have a big picture. I only have this vague impression of my future: To be with a marketing/public relations firm. But doing what? I don't have a degree in marketing or public relations. That's where my job experience has been, but what exactly do I need to be doing NOW or in the near future to push me in that direction? Do I even know enough about it to have it be a specific goal or driving force?
Lately I've been wishing I had some sort of a career counselor to help me out, or that I knew someone in the field who could guide me along, help me define my goals, and show me how to get there. I've thought about setting up appointments with HR people in the larger firms I'd like to work for to see what kind of positions are out there and what it would take to get one in the future. I also would like to talk to my boss to see what more I could be doing around here to keep me busy and make me feel like I am doing something worthwhile.
Any advice?
posted by Anonymous at 8/14/2006 09:23:00 AM
1 Comments:
As the wisest man I know says: Plan, plan, plan. If you don't sit down and plan what you want and where you are going to be then you will just stay in the same place. You have to decide what you want, plan the steps and start moving forward. If it changes, atleast you moved forward and aren't staying in the same place.
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