Track Your Career

January 19, 2009 by Olgita

Michelle L. Casto, the author of the book Get Your Career on the Fast Track: A Navigational Guide for the Modern Manager, defines several stages of career path. I found it very beneficial for myself to define what stage I am on. Here is an excerpt from her book. Give it a try!

In the Assessment Stage, you are getting ready for your life’s work. This stage is characterized by unawareness, in that you are not sure what your values, strengths, and weaknesses are. You start to feel like you want to know more about yourself and make a conscious effort to get in touch with who you really are. At this stage it is crucial to make use of assessment instruments and preferably to work with a career counselor or career coach.

In the Investigation Stage, you are researching what work exists in the world. This stage is characterized by feelings of confusion, in that you are not sure what career options exist for you. You may feel overwhelmed with all of the different jobs and opportunities that exist as you begin the process of researching the modern world of work. But if you approach this stage with a positive frame of mind, you will find that you will learn about many possibilities you may have never considered.

In the Preparation Stage, you are still getting ready to do your life’s work. This stage is characterized by feelings of excitement, as you think of how wonderful it will be to perform meaningful work. However, there is still much work to be done, and in order to be successful, you have to be prepared. Gain knowledge and experience on the chosen path, remember to set objectives and adopt a success-oriented mind-set.

In the Commitment Stage, you feel confident, in that you have figured out what you are meant to do. Sometimes people have known all along what they were meant to do, but were not able to commit to the process of making it happen, for whatever reason. At this stage, more than ever, you must focus your energy and keep your eye on the target – job search and getting hired.

In the Retention Stage, you feel comfortable in your career field, as you now have figured out how things work in your industry. You may want to remain committed to your career by continually updating your skill set and staying current with industry standards. Good idea also is to build a professional network – you’ll use it for developing your further career and to share knowledge and experience.

The Transition Stage is characterized by feelings of discomfort, in that you are unsure of what you will be doing next (and/or if you will be happy). In this stage, you learn to make conscious changes in your career direction. Think carefully – perhaps you are ready to change the flow of your professional life.

When making a career decision, most people progress through each stage to the next. But it is common for people to go back and forth between stages as they are gathering more information about themselves, the world of work, and as they begin aligning their career decision with their age, developmental stage, and life goals. It is safe to say that no matter what career stage you find yourself in now, you can be sure that you will enter and re-enter through these six stages many times though out your lifetime.

Michelle L. Casto, Ph.D. is known as the Soul Coach, because she helps people get in touch with the work that ignites their inner fire, and empowers them to shine their bright light in the world. As an inspirational speaker and author, she teaches people how to gain a higher understanding of themselves, and uses a unique Soul-Centered and Integrative process that taps into their passion, purpose, and power. Her latest book, Get Your Career on the Fast Track: A Navigational Guide for the Modern Manager is a comprehensive and interactive book that covers career management from A-Z.