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 Century1 Career Management in the 21st Century1 There are a small number of people able to 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 their mind at least five times. When a person first enters high school, their teachers and guidance counselors should lay out what classes must be completed 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 already have been 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 should begin researching jobs for the chosen career choice. However, despite all this planning, a career path is still not actually defined until an individual’s sophomore year in college. According to the article "Career Entrenchment” the authors stated "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 they will avoid being forced into a job with which they are unsatisfied. 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). Thus, career management is an essential aspect regarding one’s personal plans for the future. Individuals should always choose a career that interests them as opposed to one 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 searches should be initiated as early as possible, as all too often, it takes a fair amount of time to find and land a job that suits both a person's physical and mental needs. There are three important methods of job search strategies necessary for finding one’s optimal career choice: networking through people and agencies, developing an outstanding resume, and attaining an interview. The key to success is networking. It is important to establish relationships with people because in the twenty-first century, it is "who you know.” Many people rely on newspaper ads, relatives, friends, and word of mouth for new job leads. These people can be the most reliable informants to a person because either they work in the company, allowing them to advise you immediately of openings, 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 quality personal references for the applicant's resume. Networking will help open doors for a person, but their skills are what will be focused on and 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). Headhunters are the only types that actually operate on a “for profit” basis. The remainder (i.e., not-for-profit) are free to all. 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 popular methods of job hunting. Many agencies advertise job openings through there own company web site or through popular Internet job websites - like Yahoo, Lycos, Hotbot, etc. All of 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. In addition, info from resources such as the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) is available. It lists descriptions of job titles and occupations, work activities, and skills, knowledge, and abilities needed 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 searching is the development of an outstanding resume and the interview. According to "Microsoft Money," your resume should be a "representation of everything you have accomplished in your career: your whole life summed up...it should highlight your knowledge, skills, and accomplishments," especially those which you believe to be an important aspect to your character and workmanship (Microsoft Money, page 6). A resume will determine if the applicant is eligible for an interview. “There are three key Career Management 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” (Microsoft Money, 8). It is important to send a thank you note or call the interviewer 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 due to the fact people tend to change jobs more frequently now than they used to. People change careers for many reasons, whether positive, negative, or indifferent. They leave for reasons such as "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 that people will switch professions at least three times” (Gradview & Hobson, 1996, page 4). If an individual is 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 and mental health problems, not to mention a stressful work place. Quite often, these factors can end up in premature termination of the career choice. A person should always prepare a back-up career plan in case they are not satisfied with their current position. For those who have never been employed, two plans of action should be in place upon the completion of college. Statistics show 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. 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 himself or herself 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. "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, but 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 person’s "self" should be the most important aspect of job search. Once a person has decided on a career, job search strategies must be initiated immediately. First, they must determine what they want, what type of career interests them, and they should then pose the question as to what features they possess that best show they have what it takes for the position. Another set of questions regards skills, knowledge, abilities, and interests. Once they have asked themselves these five questions, then they are ready. If this job proves to be unworthy or unsatisfying, going back to square one - the job search strategy - and finding a new career is the best course of action. 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 the event the path changes. Without stars to guide him and charts to direct him, a mariner is worth nothing. Bibliography: References 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: 1547
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