“Work hard, get a good job with a good company and you’ll be set for life” – Dad
With all respect to Dad, we all know (though some refuse to admit) this is no longer true.
I see my clients failing in one great regard, and it really troubles me. “I’m too busy to keep looking for a job” after they’ve already found one (sometimes after years of searching).
I believe once you find a job, you have to keep looking for your next job, internally or externally. Regardless, I don’t believe anyone is going to hand you a job or a promotion because you’re nice, you deserve it, you’ve worked hard or showed up on time every day.
I don’t believe your boss, no matter how nice they are, cares about your career – at all. They don’t teach them to care about your career in management training. They teach them to care about things, numbers, schedules, production, quality and more, but never do they say ‘you should focus time, effort and energy on your subordinates’ careers’.
Shocking, I know.
If you’re in job search, or if you’re currently working, ask yourself a very important question, “If my boss isn’t concerned about my career, who is?” You can tell this by how much time they allocate to your career BEYOND the annual review. If the answer is zero, then how much time are you putting into your next promotion, your next career move?
How much time do you spend networking at professional events, trade associations? How much time do you spend volunteering for functions to promote your industry? How much time do you spend networking with people in other companies, one to one?
Make time for your career. It’s waiting for you, but it won’t wait forever.
The Career Expert is a highly sought after business and career coach. His perspective and advice is sought after by career changers, employees and executives across the U.S.
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