They say those born after 1980 (give or take a couple of years) are destined to have as many as seven careers in their lifetime. Really? Seven careers? This seems like a large number to me and calls into question the definition of the term, “career”.
When I was 25 and finishing up my Masters, I had a talk with my mom after my first day interning at JPMorgan Chase’s outplacement operation. “I’m so psyched to be launching my second career!” I exclaimed. To which my mom replied, “Your second career? What was your first career?!”
I was deflated, but mom was right. I hadn’t had a career in the years leading up to grad school…what I’d completed was at best a string of tangentially related jobs. And I see this becoming the case for many of us: We’re no longer having careers. We’re having one job, then another and then another. That’s OK in practice (i.e., you can still buy a house, save money, retire and so on), but if you want to build a career, you need to strategically guide the trajectory of your jobs held, choosing opportunities that provide a) continuity (i.e., you should be able to explain to a recruiter why your resume looks the way it does); and b) the opportunity to take on more responsibility, learn more and earn more money.
How do you know if you’ve had a career or a collection of jobs? Consider the following questions:
- If presented the opportunity to do so, could you provide a list of best practices for a new company aiming to specialize in your area?
- Would a professional association in your current industry consider tapping into your expertise? Could you add real value?
- Would you feel comfortable mentoring someone in your industry?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, there’s a good chance you have a career going.
My advice
In today’s job market, your career must be master-minded by you, the employee; it is not employer-driven. If your resume, cover letter, or elevator pitch includes the phrase “Seeking a career in…,” remove it (note: the objective statement on your resume is a job objective; not a career objective). Asking an employer for a career is asking for something most employers are not looking to give. The recruiter reading your resume has a job to do: fill a job vacancy; not find a “company man”. In a job market characterized by cost-cutting, global talent pools and high levels of unemployment, most employers simply don’t care whether or not you build a career inside their walls. It’s up to you to plan and execute your own career…assuming you want one.
Thanks, Angela. Some companies–interestingly, those often identified as “the best companies to work for” by leading magazines and websites–are interested in employee development and retaining employees for the long haul, but your best bet for getting a foothold is to focus on the job at hand and then prove yourself career-worthy once you’re inside.
Good advice. I had never thought of making the objective for a job vs. a career. I can see the difference clearly now. Thanks!