For the majority of people, career management is pretty much an afterthought. We tend to navigate our careers on auto-pilot, in a mostly reactive state. Little thought is given to building a plan that reflects our individual values, strengths, abilities and interests. Take some time to reflect on your career and where you are today. Are you in a job that best leverages your talents, and equally important, are you in an organization that recognizes how you can best contribute?

Most people will only confront and think about career management when they either lose a job, or reach a point of dissatisfaction that necessitates change. In an online poll, Right Management asked respondents what they believed was the first thing someone should do after a job loss. While 66 per cent understood the importance of taking time to re-evaluate what they wanted to do next, one in three respondents would jump into a job search without first taking the time to assess, plan and prepare properly – potentially sabotaging their efforts by acting with haste.

Here are some things you can do to ensure your career stays on track:

• Stay sharp. Career management is a continuous process of developing professional skills, building relationships and creating value that enables you to maintain a competitive edge in the job market. Be proactive in seeking out new and challenging opportunities within your organization, join professional organizations to stay connected with thought leaders in your field and look for ways to match your strengths and skills with the needs of the organization.

• Take time to assess. When facing a new job search, take time to reassess your career and determine what you want to do next. Identify strengths and goals. Create a planned job search strategy. Despite the need to mobilize a quick job search it is important to take some time to step back and create a thoughtful and measured approach to your job search. Be clear about the position you want and target the companies where you want to work.

• Be prepared. A resume serves as a written introduction to a new contact or a prospective employer. Be prepared by keeping your resume up-to-date with significant accomplishments and/or special interests that illustrate strengths.

• Practise your 30-second commercial. We should all have a smooth "30-second commercial" to communicate background, strengths, accomplishments, objectives and what you have to offer in a clear and compelling way.

• Leverage your traditional and online networking relationships. Successful networking means gathering and sharing information and ideas. Our research consistently shows that networking is the #1 method for finding a new position. And online networking complements traditional networking by leveraging technology to build, manage and track professional networking relationships, enabling greater reach and access to more people.

Consider your current situation and how you can take the necessary steps to build a better career management program for yourself. Right Management works with individuals and organizations to build Career Management programs that enable participants to understand their career-related strengths, interests, values and needs, and to leverage them through increased contribution to the organization.

Jeff Moffatt, Vice-President, Client Services

Right Management

To contact Jeff, e-mail jeff.moffatt@right.com or call 613-230-1311 ext. 234

Right Management is the leading global provider of integrated human capital consulting solutions. We offer much more than advice. We partner with our clients to help them achieve sustainable business results. Our four areas of expertise are talent attraction and assessment; leadership development; employee engagement and alignment; and career transition. Right Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of Manpower Inc.