Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Business Career Management in the 21st Century Career Management in the 21st Century The Necessity for Career Management in the 21st Century. Many people determine "what they want to be when they grow up" just as soon as they are able to talk, but the truth is, by the time they graduate high school, they change your mind at least five times. When a person first enter high school, their teachers and guidance counselors should explain what classes need to be taken in order to enter college. By the time one reaches their senior year, their career path(s) and a career outline that supports the path should be determined. In addition, a realistic set of goals should be created. An individual should research the best school that meets their career choices, know what college classes must be taken, and lastly they should began researching jobs for the chosen career(s) choice. However, even with all this planning, a career path is still not really defined until an individuals sophomore year in college. According to the article, "Career Entrenchment...", the authors stated that "many people choose their career at the age of eighteen or nineteen, before they know all about the available choices" (Carson & Carson, 1996). Career management is a necessity because an individual can plan their career early so that they won’t be forced into a job that they are really unsatisfied with. The authors also stated that "Individuals too often select careers based on their perceived ability, experience, or skill" not by their interests (Carson & Carson, 1996). That’s why career management is a really important aspect for a persons future plans. Individuals should always choose a career that interests them not one that’s based on salary or perceived success. That way, changes can be made if they occur and a person will know how to balance their personal life and their career. Career Management for the 21st Century is a necessity because there must be a developed method of job search strategies and a developed back-up plan in case of career change. Job search should be initiated as early as possible. Sometimes it takes a while to find a job that suits a persons physical and mental needs. There are three important methods of job search strategy that is necessary for finding ones career choice: networking through people and agencies, developing an outstanding resume’, and landing the interview. The key to success is through networking. It is important to establish relationships with people because in the twenty-first century, it’s "who you know". Many people rely on newspaper ads, relatives and friends, and by word of mouth for new job leads. These people can be the most reliable informants to a person because they either work in the company, so they can tell you of job openings as soon as they are informed or they know someone in the company who can assist with the job leads. Through them, it is easier to get notices of new job openings before they are publicized to the open market. These informants can also serve as good personal references for their resume and they can also be mentioned during the interview. Networking will help open doors for a person, but it’s their skills that will be judged. Along with networking, there are other agencies that assist with job opportunities like: the state employment agencies, private employment agencies, the internet, recruiters, career centers, job fairs, etc. (Microsoft Money, page 5). Of them all headhunters, which are privately owned agencies, are the only agencies that operate for profit. All of the others are free to anyone. Every state has a non-profit public department of labor board that provides help to individuals who are in search of job opportunities. Public agencies get their job leads from the companies themselves to help the company to recruit qualified individuals for the job. When individuals go to these public agencies, their skills and experience are assessed and then the individual is referred to the company for an interview. The internet has become one of the most popularize methods of job search. Many agencies advertise job openings through there own company web site or through popular internet job websites - like Yahoo, Lycos, Hotbot, etc. All these agencies and websites provide general overviews of the companies, the position(s) offered, and the skills and experiences required for the job, location, and the salary. Also, info from resources such as the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) are available. They list descriptions of job titles and occupations, work activities, and skills, knowledge, and abilities need for specified occupations. "No person or agency should be overlooked as potential sources of information about available jobs" (page 5). The last method of job search is the development of an outstanding resume’ and the interview. The individuals resume’ should be a "representation of everything you’ve accomplished in your career: your whole life summed up...it should highlight your knowledge, skills, and accomplishments" that you believe to be an important aspects to your character and workmanship. (Microsoft Money, page 6). A resume’ will determine if the applicant will be eligible for an interview. According to Microsoft Money, there are three Career Management 3 key aspects for the interview process: getting the interview, preparing for the interview - which involves researching the company, and doing a follow-up after the interview (page 8). It’s important to send a thank you note or call the interview a few days after the interview. Networking, company job searches, resume development, and the interview process are three components of job search strategies for career management of the twenty-first century. Lastly, Career management in the twenty-first century is a necessity because people tend to change job more frequently now than they use to. People change careers for many reasons which are positive and negative. They leave for "more money, greater enjoyment, more advancement, more creativity, more challenge, interesting work, long term potential, and as a result of downsizing or layoffs, lack of motivation, and lack of interest" (Gradview & Hobson, 1996, page 4). According to Carson and Carson, " ... one in ten workers actually change jobs each year because they do not identify with or feel emotionally attached to their jobs". It was also stated by the U.S. Department of Labor Department that people will switch professions at least three times... (Gradview & Hobson, 1996, page 4). If an individual’s not careful about the career they choose, they will be forced into a working environment that does not meet their interest, which can cause physical health problems and a stressful work place. Usually these factor can end up in unemployment. A person should always prepare a career back-up plan in case they are not satisfied with their current position. For those who has never been employed, like college students, should have two plans of action upon the completion of college. Statistics shows that recent college graduates have difficulty finding jobs in their degree field once they have graduated. If a situation like this should occur, then the individual will already have their second plan of action that could be initiated. For those who have had a career and are dissatisfied with it should look for employment elsewhere and start all over again. In determining the next job, a person should re-evaluate themself by doing a self-assessment. "Find out your strengths, weaknesses, skills, experiences, knowledge, and then decide what profession appeals to you" (page 6). After that, develop another job strategy method and choose the one that best fits their interests. Compare them to the previous job and then accept the position in the company that possesses the best career advantage and benefits to the individual. "The career of the twenty - first century will be a career that is driven by the person, not the organization..." ( Hall, 1996). There are many roads to success and the wrong road will lead to dissatisfaction in the work place. The earlier you start searching, the more prepared you will be for your career choice. A persons "self" should be the most important aspect of job search. Once a person have decided on a career, job search strategies must be initiated immediately. First determine what you want, what type of career(s) interests you. Then ask yourself what are my features that best fits me for this job? Is it my skills, my knowledge, my abilities, or my interests? Once you have asked yourself these five questions, then you are ready. If this job proves to be unworthy or unsatisfying then start the job search strategy over and find a new career. Career Management for the twenty-first century is a necessity because people have to know what direction they are going in and the steps they need to take in case the path changes. Bibliography: Carson, D. Kerry & Paula Phillips Carson (1997). Career entrenchment: A quiet march toward occupational death? Academy of Management Executive, 11(1), 62-75. Gradview & Hobsons (1996). Your Career and Why You’ll Change. Available: http://www.gradview.com/careers/index.html Hall, T. Douglas (1996). Protean careers of the 21st century. Academy of Management Executive, 10(4), 8-15. Career Management-Overview (No date). Microsoft Money. Available: http://www.msmoney.com/mm/career/careermgmt_index.html Word Count: 1478
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