"Know No Limits - Take Your Career Sky High".

A fundamental shift in approach and attitude is evident in many job seekers and especially those who have studied well and accomplished much in the area of academic learning. Whilst still a minority view, the shift concerns a certain entitlement to better treatment or rewards based on academic qualifications which may be quite removed from meaningful performance.

Firstly we should never forget that ‘one’s qualifications (ability) get one hired, yet one’s performance (attitude) results in one being fired’. In order that each of us may take our careers sky high it is crucial to understand that any career that is going to soar requires good qualifications, but not ONLY good qualifications.

Secondly one’s attitude towards the job, to colleagues, clients and superiors will be a far more important and accurate determinant of performance and advancement than people generally believe. Compounding this poor emotional maturity is the truth that deficiencies in this area of attitude or behaviour are not matters easily raised and discussed by superiors. Superiors and colleagues find it easier to discuss when performance maybe slipping in a particular area rather than attitudinal matters. They gloss over these and simply do not promote the individual.

Therefore in-order to take your career sky high, the first challenge is to do a reality check on:
 What am I doing to keep abreast of developments in my field and how much am I investing in myself.
 How competent am I when engaging with others, and what is my overall attitude to those, whom I serve, work with and report to?

Many have forgotten the enormous benefits of the work place. For most it has been an experience of development, in terms of skills learned whether they are mental abilities, social interactions, financial disciplines plus a variety of other core skills such as working with computers and other high technology equipment. The work place has the capacity to be a place of enormous personal development. and when reviewing any position one should be enquiring of employers what their attitude and conduct is towards training, internal promotions, exposure to travel and new situations, job rotation, performance appraisals, incentive plans etc. These aspects develop and nurture character and skills that result in ones career “knowing no limits”.

Perhaps most importantly one has to consider are you looking for a career or a job? The first view takes the long-term perspective. It is intent on making an investment that over time is expected to yield rewards. The second view is more ‘now’ or short-term oriented and is driven by the attitude what is in it for me.

Secondly if you are looking to build a successful career make sure that your “North Star”, that is your guiding principles, are not your wallet, but your opportunity to learn, to be empowered and to be challenged and stretched with responsibilities and opportunities you might normally have pulled back from. When we chase the size of the wage packet as a priority we will usually sacrifice other more important and beneficial attributes that are more crucial for our development and progress.

Some of these ‘other attributes’ could involve understanding something about the company’s own strategic goals and vision. Is there anything that strikes you in particular about the company, what are your first impressions? What are your first impressions? Don’t ignore them. What values can the people interviewing you tell you about the company and in what do they pride themselves?. Can they map out some sort of development for the position they are advertising? What are the promotional opportunities like? Why is the position for which you are applying not being filled internally? Finally how will you and the employer know that your performance is good or exceeding expectations? Unless this can be articulated how will you ever know you have met their expectations and how will you know at what to aim to beat such expectations!

A career that will know no limits that requires you take some risks! Everything that is safe and secure is also predictable, stable and finite. Careers which are fulfilling and exciting are firstly about challenge, taking responsibility, being empowered and being accountable and where necessary taking the appropriate risks! Look for employment that will demand you swim against the tide, where you are vulnerable, made to think, engage with others who are different and in themselves demanding.

Not every thing will work according to how your thought, but at least you have a way of measuring achievements and direction. That already gives you ahead start over 99.9% of others who do nothing in terms of planning and goal setting.

Know this for sure, “- that if you do not work to create the life you want, you will have to endure the life you get”. David Knowles

Contributed by Training Edge Editorial Team