Career Strategy
A Successful Career Strategy
To successfully achieve career goals, especially in today’s job market, requires a well-planned strategy, rather than the ‘shotgun’ approach which many job seekers use. This is not unlike any other project an executive engages in.. identify the outcome, then work backward to develop the appropriate action steps to achieve that outcome.
A successful strategy includes:
- A self-assessment to identify the “features” that the executive uses to be successful; these include, skills, personal qualities, experience, education, achievements and accumulated knowledge;
- Researching the ‘market’ to determine opportunities exist based on the challenges and needs that companies are facing;
- Creating strong, compelling approaches that demonstrate the executive’s strengths and benefits;
- Developing strong ‘interviewing’ skills that helps to answer the two most important questions: “CAN I help this company achieve its goals?” and “Do I WANT to help this company?”
- Effective negotiation skills to obtain a fair and equitable compensation that reflects the executive’s contribution and value to the company.
Eagle Wing Strategies consultants assist clients in each of the steps necessary to develop and implement a successful career strategy. The consultant and client work together in a partnership throughout the client’s search, and beyond. The consultant provides objective insight and strategic direction, and acts as a ‘sounding board’ to help the client make informed decisions. Success happens on purpose, not by accident.
Career Strategy
As discussed in the Assessment section, in a successful job search it is important to know what one has to offer an organization in experience, knowledge, skills, achievement, personal qualities, and education. For the very small percentage of people who take the time to assess their strengths, they tend to end the evaluation there. Obviously, if a person knows what he or she has to offer, he/she is in a better position to find out who is looking for it. However, the assessment is still not the best place from which to initiate a job search. Another essential step is to identify the right and better situation. In doing so, one has to assess future demand.
The last twenty-five years have brought an incredible amount of change in the workforce and the workplace. That change was mostly caused by technological advances. And, as we have learned during those years, the pace of change has only increased. Because of the rapid and continuous change of technology and the continuous intrusion of technical tools into every job, change will be a constant. If an executive has determined to push his or her career forward, he/she has to look ahead to see in which directions to go. where the opportunities are, and what it takes to qualify for them.
Eagle Wing assists its clients in planning out to as much as ten years to begin to see what needs to be done to get back on the career track, or set out in a new career direction. One needs to see the goals to be able to dedicate work to attain them. It has become increasingly more difficult for an executive to advance in his career step by step without a game plan. Too many changes in the market disrupt natural career tracks. It is incumbent upon every executive to develop and manage his/her career from start to finish. Eagle Wing works directly with each client to develop a sound and logical plan off a viable career strategy. We assist the client in seeing the various directions one could go (based on background and future inputs.) We develop a “career map” or plan to help a client see what it takes to make career steps happen today. An excellent plan is the best way to move forward in a career.
“You simply cannot communicate enough. Experts say that you have to tell the average adult something six times before it is internalized.
The challenge becomes communicating a message in such a creative way that it only has to be told once.” – Barbara A. Ganz
