Take a lesson from your school days

Mentoring

By David Thatcher

Years ago, when our parents told us our “student days” were the best of our lives, I wonder how many of us agreed at the time.

Even the most academically minded will have had days when the pressure from preparing assignments or studying for exams made them feel like simply throwing away their text books and just walking away from things. Nevertheless, perseverance paid off and many of you succeeded in passing out with excellent qualifications.

When the time came to start thinking ahead beyond the classroom, and the first serious thoughts about a career were developing, it probably took many of us months of agonising over the multitude of choices presenting themselves before deciding on the professional path we should follow. Often these difficult decisions were taken without any professional guidance or support.

You didn’t rush then, so why would you rush a decision on your career at any other stage in your life, particularly at times when circumstances are persuading you to look to new horizons, possibly for the long-term benefit of your family, or out of a desire to move closer to home.

In times of uncertainty and instability, individuals make quick decisions over what is best for themselves and their family, and the tendency can be to rush into job moves which may have a damaging effect on careers. But those considering moving on are cautioned to avoid rushing into what can become negative career moves.

In the past we have identified the combinations of external factors from market conditions to regulatory issues that conspire to make career path planning such a difficult matter. It is the combination of complex issues that converge and create barriers that must be recognised for their significance, and then overcome.

We have seen that for any integration strategy to work, intra-regional legislation needs to protect expatriates and ensure fairness and balance within localization plans. Hiring practice is in dire need of urgent change with the role of HR continuing to act as a business support and help secure a move away from “hiring to the lowest price”. For all this does, is to create an installed talent pool that is of questionable long-term value.

Regional growth has created turbulence and instability within the markets, a disparate recruitment ethos has evolved that does not support the long-term aspirations of the region. Many other factors also combine to upset smooth transitions for the career minded individual and, these often embrace market alignment protocols such as WTO and the intra-regional rivalries that have caused some leeching of domestic talent.

Other stumbling blocks include the difficulties associated with assessing the value of “human capital”, unsuitable company form and its direct contribution to career dissatisfaction, company attitude to job titles and the impact this may have on job enrichment, avoiding being “shaped” by some job agencies and the difficulties associated with the hiring process.

As this region rapidly adopts new technologies, then such changes in the structure of the business will place new demands on today’s managers, often increasing work pressure to new levels of discomfort.

Another phenomen that has proven very disruptive for many, are the activity peaks and troughs that map market opportunities. Planning around the business spikes and lulls, vacations, public holidays and other seasonality factors places additional stress on all who are in the market for a new position. Sadly, we see many people who have taken the decision to ‘tread water” through this somewhat protracted period and simply ride out the market to see what may come along.

Hardly a sound strategy and even if you are being forced to leave your current position, and the industry in which you have built your career does not initially present any equal opportunities elsewhere, the temptation to coast along or jump at a lesser job providing an immediate salary should be resisted.

In some cases, a change of career path can bring a new lease of life, and open an exciting new chapter. In times of stress, it’s easy to get confused by the options available, and make the wrong choice. That’s why a comprehensive and professionally executed career programme, allowing individuals to develop realistic and challenging career objectives, and the skills and confidence to seek out and secure fulfilling career positions that satisfy their personal and professional aspirations, is so valuable.

Career planning and sensible management is no different to managing ones personal affairs or even managing a business. You plan your personal finances and manage your assets and liabilities, you plan where you intend to live based on personal and family needs and often select good business schools for your education.

It is so important to recognize the fact that career planning is an integral part of your life plan, and unless you have a firm belief that careers are simply a matter of serendipity, career moves need the same care in planning and execution as your personal affairs.

Remember that a career is not simply a job, it is a way of life.

Ends

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Based in Dubai, David Thatcher, (CareerPartners@ameinfo.com) is the principal of career management and mentoring specialists Career Partners in the Middle East.