The ABC’s of Timing Your Careers

One of the top most topics that people is bracket of 3 years and above look for is timing their careers. While enough knowledge is available in how to make an entry into a Industry/ sector, there was almost little knowledge in the ways how you time you career for greater successes. I am sharing the best of the tips and tricks that were shared by few fellow managers and sr management based on their own experience, observation and based on their study.

For best timing of your careers you need to have grab on three core views.

1.    Your Current Specialization, Skills- It is almost impossible to time your career without you having a clear understanding of what you are good at? And how best you are in it. Please carry on SWOT analysis of your core skills and rate yourself so that you get a clear understanding of how you stand in your current roles. Develop a calendar goals to improve your skills. If possible have mentor to help you to strategize your skill development and improvement program. Typically you can choose your boss, or friend who is senior to you in your industry. Please choose people who are clean minded, willing to help and not the wicked.

2.     Trends In Your Industry- For you to train your guns, you need to follow what are the trends that are happening in your industry. Subscribe to industry journals, network with people to know various trends in your stream locally and internationally. Trends can be understood in two ways An accelerating trend, and Ordinary trend.  An accelerating trend is some thing that you cannot ignore, It basically provides you information on what’s happening fast. Align yourself to accelerating trend.

3.    Job moves Lateral/Vertical -  I have seen few people shifting jobs while a rise in local markets; they have miserably failed on long runs. The best way for you understand when you can move forward can be best understood when you know your current skills, positioning, tends in your industry and how your current company is doing Vs Industry . Don’t change jobs for petty reasons, understand what is in offer in totality and not just the monetary pays. No person will be willing to pay you a huge raise against industry norm with out there being a some kind of trick attached.

Calculate all your options carefully and select a long term strategy than falling for short term gains. I have rarely seen people in Sr Management who successfully grew without a strategy. If you are not clearly able to understand what is in new Offer for long term, stay back with your current employer after all, he is the one who is nourishing you and a reason for what you are now ! Its the best way forward till you get some clarity and re-strategize your career.

Good luck- Ravi Kollipara.