Don’t Just Walk, Pick a Direction

In the world of executive job search, we often get so caught up in the hunt that we fail to remember what we are really hunting for. That’s why I was drawn to an excerpt in Forbes from a book by Pamela Skillings entitled Escape from Corporate America: A Practical Guide to Creating the Career of Your Dreams.

“Your career is a business and you are already an entrepreneur, even if you sell your time and services to just one company in exchange for a salary and benefits. You may have found a good business model for You, Inc., in Corporate America. But that doesn't mean that you don't have other options or that you can't find a better deal if you get fed up with your current client. After all, your employers won't hesitate to cut you loose if your position stops making business sense for them.”

In this blog and the other career management resources we offer through NETSHARE, we have long been advocates of approaching your career as you would a job. In fact, promoting the brand that is uniquely “you” should be the most rewarding professional experience you can have. The challenge for many is to broaden the context for your career, and to start looking beyond the walls of corporate life for true job satisfaction. As Skilling points out:

• 50% of American workers are dissatisfied with their jobs
• 80% fantasize about leaving their current jobs
• Twice as many employees working for small companies are satisfied with their jobs than those employed by large corporations
• 87% of free agents and entrepreneurs are very satisfied with their jobs

There is no reason to feel stuck moving from job to job. Most job-changers become stalled either because of fear (loss of a paycheck, benefits, security, etc.) or because they fear failure and can’t visualize an alternative that will make them happier.

So we all need to be entrepreneurs, particularly where your own career is concerned. As Skillings notes, you don’t have to quit corporate America to become an entrepreneur, or intrapreneur, but you do need to change the business model for You, Inc. Remember, jobs are temporary but your career is, well, a career! So focus on your master plan and don’t worry so much about your next job change. You’ll come to see you can quit when you know you can create the right opportunity for where you REALLY want to be.