Career Management

Human Resource Management MBA, June 2010 Ace Institute of Management

 She was a good student in school. Grades dont always count, but one has to be good to get 4 out of 4. Isnt it? And she has been equally successful in her career as well. Manager of a reputed organization, earning good salary, a company car, and not to mention other benefits. Not bad. Is it? And all this has happened in the first five years of her work life. I met her the other day. To my surprise, she said shed resigned from her job a month back, and was currently teaching school kids. The benefits are not very good, and teaching I guess does not command that much of a social status either., she said with a smile. But it was a conscious decision in my case. And since I am happy with what I am doing now, I am glad I took the decision. So what do you think career actually is?

Warming Up

GOING BY THE BOOKS

Career Derived from the Latin word Carrera, which means race Course through life (or a distinct portion of life). It is usually considered to pertain to remunerative work (and sometimes also formal education) Oxford Dictionary

Simply put, it is a course of successive situations/positions that make up a person's occupation

Conceptually speaking, one can have a career without being a professional (e.g., an amateur athlete) These days though, it is more relevant to the series of jobs or positions by which one earns a living

Career Management: Individual Vs. Organizational Perspectives

Individual: Ones immediate, mid term and long term professional and life objectives, how to achieve those.
Organizational: Tracking career paths, ensuring capable managerial and technical talent will be available to meet the organizations needs.

So whats the focus here? - Primarily organizational

- But balance and consideration for both should be it

Career Management: Individual Vs. Organizational Perspectives

Organizational Career Perspectives
Identify future organizational staffing needs Develop career ladders Individual Career Perspectives Personal goals Achievement of goals Balancing work & family, other priorities Training, education

Assess individual potential and training needs

Match organizational needs with individual abilities Monitor special groups

Career: External Vs. Internal Dimensions

External Dimensions Objective progression of steps through a given occupation. Is explicit. Opportunity Status / Hierarchy Money Internal Dimensions

Subjective concept of progression. Can be vague. Meaning

Respect Relationships Satisfaction

Other benefits

Have you say Why would a person quit a high paying job in a big name corporate and take up say teaching, which pays half the amount than in the previous job? Success is a function of ones perception. The actual reality means little.

CAREER STAGES

Organizational Career Development

How managers can better match the career needs of their subordinates with the requirements of their organization? Challenging Initial Job Dissemination of Career Option Information

Job Postings
Career counseling Career Development Workshops Training & development Periodic Job Changes Sabbaticals

Individual Career Development

How you can identify your needs, set objectives, explore options and initiate accomplishments?

Typically a four step process

A few practical tips for managing your career