On Next Steps: Knowing When and How to Take Them
It’s human nature to want to progress and evolve. Those of us that find ourselves in the workforce in any capacity, be it corporate industry, government, healthcare or entrepreneurship, and beyond, will end up looking for their next opportunity at some juncture in the road. What should you do before making your next big career leap?
The answer lies in the “why”, not necessarily in the “what”.
Considering “why” is the most important element of thought when preparing to make your next career move. As you consider your motivations for moving forward, vet them against a pre-determined set of values. Many variables go into the consideration of your motivations and we wouldn’t dare make any unwise assumptions into the only things to consider, but we will make recommendations of three solid schools of thought for you to embrace on the journey to your next steps.
Resume vs. Range. This is one of the most pivotal considerations as it relates to your career. A resume is a great place to show off the skills you’ve gained from previous jobs along with any education and training you’ve completed. Is the trajectory expressed on your resume pointing toward your ultimate goal in terms of career? Although a great trophy, a resume addition is not necessarily the only thing that should be considered. What about the range of skills and experience you will gain in taking the next step? For those seeking higher positions or even if you eventually leap into full-time entrepreneurship, it is a better idea to consider the range of experience you will gain versus how much you can add to your resume.
Validation vs. Values. Ethics is a personal core value that provides a safe place to land in any decision-making process. Going for a position because the title carries professional or social weight yet the organization itself is known for unethical business practices and discriminatory policies, is an unwise choice. Aligning yourself with an organization that may not offer the positional clout you desire but they are known to have a healthy staff culture and are equitable in their business practices is likely the better choice.
Short game vs. Long game. The short game is the short-term objective and the long game is the long-term objective. Oftentimes while in positions that may no longer prove to be optimal, we look for the fastest way out. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that pursuit, we tend to only keep the short term in mind. Looking for an escape is fine as long as we’ve considered what our next step will be in light of our long-term objectives.
Understandably, there are many details to consider when leaping from one thing to another and I certainly didn’t cover them all here. Nonetheless, these three considerations can prove to be a stable starting block for your next leg of the journey.
