Career Path Divergence Navigating The Ten Year Fork In The Road
fter working with between the skills-based side of
engineers and IT their professions or taking the
professionals for over ten management track. This time of
years, I have noticed a choice can be a very difficult
consistent pattern in career period for professionals since
paths of these types of the decision they make will
professionals. The career paths directly impact the rest of their
are generally similar in that the careers.
first three years are spent
breaking into their career Each track offers different
fields, learning skills, gaining benefits and opportunities. The
additional training, and professional who chooses to take
establishing their professional the skills-based career path
reputations. Between three and would expect to advance his/her
seven years, they begin taking on skills to the specialist/expert
supervisory roles such as team level. Engineers or IT
lead, group leader, or functional professionals who take this path
supervisor. From seven years to might eventually gain patents in
around ten years (often as late their work, earn a reputation as
as twelve years) into one a national expert in a particular
specific career path, skill or hone in on a special
engineering/IT professionals have direction of their skills that
established their skills, and are requires advanced education. Many
honing their leadership skills. times, professionals who choose
this track become consultants who
Somewhere around the ten-year provide special knowledge in
mark, however, they face a choice specific skill areas.
that seems to be consistent
across industries. These Benefits of selecting the
professionals often face a choice skills-based career path are more
inwardly focused than the Hoover Dam. When he came to me
management track. Rewards for for services, he was
choosing this path include transitioning from design leader
opportunities to work on the to consultant in order to
cutting edge of technology and maximize his earning potential.
emerging trends; opportunities to He was also ready to start
delve deeply into development of thinking of partial retirement
new technology; and and wanted to work less while
study/research opportunities that still pulling in equal income.
are available only to high
experts in a specific niche. Many This particular client had faced
return to academia to gain a PhD the decision around the
in their particular area of twelve-year mark in his career to
interest. Monetary rewards vary continue on the skills-based
but are greatest in the track or go toward management
consulting arena where specialist with one of the large elevator
command very high rates for their manufacturers. His true love was
expertise. design and not managing people,
so he selected the skills-based
A good example of an engineer who track.
chose the skills-based track is a
former client of mine who The management-based career track
designed elevators. He was an offers different rewards and a
expert in elevator design, held more traditional career path.
several patents and was known Professionals who select the
well throughout the small management track find they move
industry of elevator companies. away from the day-to-day use of
One of his early accomplishments development skills and spend more
included design work on the of their time managing tasks,
visitor center elevators of the teams, and business operations.
They lose touch with the Professionals facing this fork in
particular skills of their the career path often experience
industry and concentrate on feelings of confusion and anxiety
bigger picture tasks. without really knowing why.
Professionals who choose this Career coaching can be very
career direction often decide to valuable at this point to
obtain an MBA around the ten-year professionals who are facing a
mark in order to boost their change in direction and are not
travel up the management ladder, sure which path to select.
a ladder that ends at the top of Professionals who work with a
the corporate structure as CEO, career coach will come away with
CIO, or President. a clear view of their personal
career style, their goals, and
The rewards of the management can be confident in any decision
track are more capitalistic in made concerning the direction of
that the salaries are their career.
progressively larger, the benefit
packages riper, and the obtuse Life is full of decisions. Many
status positions are more obvious have to be made on the fly, by
on the management track. the seat of the pants, and with
Individuals who select this track fingers crossed. Career choices
tend to be less interested in generally carry the luxury of
how things work than in winning advance timing and the
. The management track is the opportunity to consider all
most traditional and well-known, options completely. Are you
thus often is what is selected by facing a fork in your career
professionals regardless of road? Take your time and consider
whether they have the abilities all your options. Make your
or desire to be managers. decision based on what is best
for your career, your
personality, and your life.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleStreet.com
Published in 25 career books, Alesia has been cited by Jist Publications as one of the "best resume writers in North America" and quoted as a Career Expert in the Wall Street Journal. Serving as the Resume Expert for over 50+ organizations, she has numerous media appearances to her credit and is a frequent keynote speaker. www.rezamaze.com
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