Curate a career

A few months ago, I was talking to my soon to be Father in-law about business.  He's highly successful, highly German, and as a result, highly calculated in everything he does.  Something that he mentioned that I found incredibly simple, yet oftentimes neglected is the concept of "curating a career."  As an artist layering paint on a canvas or an athlete readying for competition, each step leads to another in a calculated, purposeful progression.  This type of methodology can all too easily become lost on people as they slog through their careers and bounce around the job market.

To curate a career, ask a few questions and adhere to a few principles:

Think two steps ahead.
Someone that plays chess will think this is common sense.  Hold a small spot in the back of your mind for how your current performance is setting you up for your next move.  Do you need to take on different projects to build your resume or develop connections at a certain company?  Set those moves up now and you'll be in a position of strength when it comes time to evaluate an opportunity.

Create a road map.
Every once in a while think of where you'd like to be in five years.  Do you want to switch fields, companies, cities?  If so, what does the map look like en route?  Develop a short hit list of companies just like you would in sales and be sure you have the connections and resume needed to get there.

Consider a change every three to five years.
The experience you gain with new environments, new peers, and new challenges, will far outweigh the experience any "lifer" could gain by sitting still.  Different companies simply do things differently, so gaining this extra perspective will allow you to make more calculated decisions with greater confidence.

Always look from a position of strength.
Sharks can sense blood in the water and hiring managers know when they have the upper hand.  Never quite before you have the next thing lined up, no matter how thirsty you are for new opportunity.

This all may sound very simple and even commonsense, but keeping some of these things in mind will keep you focused and less likely to make decisions based on pay, free food, and all the other shiny things, unless of course that's a part of your road map.


Related Posts:
Be Aware of Your Online Brand