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My Career12-Sep-2010

Q - I'm feeling a bit adrift at work - I'm not sure this is the right place for me.  How do I assess where I really belong?

A - One of the first things you have to decide is the type of organization where you'll be most satisfied and fulfilled.  I believe there are seven primary choices for any of us - take a look at this list and start eliminating organizational types until you get down to the one that feels right to you.  Choose from among: large corporation,small company, non-profit, government, consulting firm, academia, or independent consultant.  The next thing you have to decide is where you want to live - geography plays a big part in our work satisfaction.  Will you be happy in a big city?  Do you want to live near a coast?  Finally, what type of industry appeals to you?  Do you like being in the service sector?  Or would you rather work for a company that makes a product?  Does it need to be a cutting edge company (technology), or are you comfortable in more mature, established industries like banking?  If you know where you want to live, what type of organization you'll thrive in, and what interests you from a macro industry perspective, you can start to zero in on what's right for you.

My Career22-Mar-2010

Q – I just got passed over for promotion (again). I’m not sure this is the right company for me anymore. What would you recommend I do?

A - Talk to your boss about your concerns and your career aspirations. Ask her directly: “what can I do to earn a promotion”? At this point, you need the straight story on how the organization views you – not just your boss, but others that are contributing to the promotion decisions. Ask her to be completely candid, and be willing to accept the feedback and do something about it. At the same time, you need to be open to the fact that most leaders will work at several companies in their career; moving to a company where you might be a better fit isn’t a sign of weakness or an admission of failure. Being happy at work, tackling interesting and challenging work, and being recognized for your unique contributions is what you should be striving for in a job, and a career.