by: Colin Ong TS
It is not realistic for HR Managers to believe that there will not be any staff turnover in the organisation. Having regular staff turnover need not be a negative proposition as it may imply that the industry is very dynamic. There are also other varied reasons for this: The organisation may undergo a restructuring exercise or its headquarters may be relocated to a different country. With new talents to improve the competitiveness of the organisation, it is dependent on each employee to take full control of his career progression.
In this article, tips will be provided about making the best decisions in career progression.
Your Expertise:
You have to be objective and honest about your own personal expertise assessment. Are you suitable for a particular job or are you expected to learn in new skill? It is best to find out about the future progress of your chosen industry so that your skills will not be deemed as outdated by other organizations.
Your Networks:
You should also get in contact with your corporate networks and find out more about the industry. This will be useful if you want to take up relevant courses to boost your employability in the industry. You can also join informal Internet Forums to get more information.
During The Transition:
It is wise to take stock of your current situation before you make a career transition. The most important aspect is your regular financial commitments. The reason is that making a career transition needs considerable adjustment in time and building new working relationships. You may have to set aside more money in your new working environment for transport, eating and business entertainment.
Your Company Has Changed Focus:
You feel that your organisation may have changed its long-term focus and your skills may not be as important as before. This is not uncommon occurrence especially with globalisation. It is good to have a word with your immediate superior and explain your wish to change your job specification. Your initiative may actually prompt your immediate supervisor to recommend you for a promotion.
Needing New Challenges:
With the recent dot-com explosion, many people have been exposed with the excitement of setting up a company from scratch. There is a lure of being an entrepreneur. You may not want to be a technopreneur but you are certainly considering to be an Independent Consultant.
Do not throw away your current contacts: They may prove to be instrumental in getting new contract. Leave your organisation in good terms; they may be your future alliances.
Overseas Posting:
Your Career Move may also be an overseas posting. The reason is that your performance may be monitored and a good showing will bring positive results. Before you accept the overseas posting, you should make the effort of finding out about the living conditions and expenses. A lot of this information can be found on the internet It is also prudent to get in contact with other employees who have had the same overseas posting.
Developing A New Product/Expertise:
If you are in the R&D industry and you are developing a patent, you may decide to make a career move because your current work environment may not be conducive. This is not a difficult decision as developing a patent may take about 5 years and you do not want to waste your productive years not completing the patent design.
Needing More Flexibility:
A career move be a signal your deep desire to pursue other interests. This can be in the form of writing a book or completing a study program. Many senior employees make this conscious decision after their children's education have been settled or after accumulating a comfortable retirement fund.