Whether you are at the beginning of your journey into employment or you are ready for a change of role, there is no doubt that career success can be challenging to achieve. The corporate world can sometimes feel overwhelming, and many people end up working jobs that make them feel dissatisfied and unhappy.
Research shows that 60 per cent of people feel emotionally detached at work. If you are already one of the 60 per cent or are fearful that you may become part of that statistic, you may be unsure of your next steps. Rather than drifting into a new career and then discovering that you do not enjoy it, you may find it helpful to take a different approach.
Taking a proactive approach to your career is an excellent way to find a role you love. Applying project management principles to your career can equip you with the tools needed to choose a new job and pursue it.
Scoping
All projects start with scoping, and when you are the project manager of your career, completing this stage is helpful.
During the scoping stage, you will need to identify what you want to achieve in your career and note any specific goals and objectives you have. At this point, it is also helpful to think about the resources you will need to make your new career a reality. Do you need to complete any training, or will you need to apply for any special certifications for your new career?
Planning
Once you have completed the scoping stage, you will be ready to start planning. Developing a plan for your career can be daunting. However, breaking down your career plans into smaller components using a method such as the work breakdown structure (WBS) is a great place to start. Instead of one huge task, breaking your project down into smaller, more manageable tasks will help you to make steady progress without becoming overwhelmed.
If you are planning to work in education, your smaller tasks could include enrolling on a teacher training course and to begin researching primary teacher jobs available in your local area. As each of these smaller tasks is completed, you will become a step closer to launching your new career.
Treat Your Career Like an Ongoing Project
Of course, unlike many other projects, your career is ongoing, with the end of your career taking place decades into the future when you retire. Due to the long-term nature of your career, it is helpful to regularly pause and review your progress, which can be thought of as the reporting stage in standard project management.
Taking opportunities to reflect on your career progress and review your current situation and feelings about your career will enable you to ensure you still feel a sense of job satisfaction.
Reviewing and reflecting on your career is also an excellent way to identify training opportunities and deal with any gaps in your knowledge that are preventing you from achieving even greater career success.
