The
first question that arises in the minds of young managers
of today are "How can I get ahead in my job?" and
"Why does it take time to get promoted in this company?"
Career development is one of the most intriguing subjects
in any organizational behavior. Many students decide to pursue
a graduate degree for career development. But planning a career
is not an easy matter. Successful career planning requires
that you set realistic goals, determine the strengths and
weaknesses in your job performance, and develop skills that
will make you marketable. The process of career planning requires
you to answer three questions: (1) Who am I? (2) Where do
I want to go? and (3) How can I get there? To answer these
questions, you have to introspect and have an assessment of
your needs, interests, values, and abilities.
Career
anchors are used as a method of self-assessment and they are
a combination of motivating factors, ideas, interests, and
constraints that guide, stabilize, and integrate career choice.
The identification of one's career anchors can be useful in
two ways. Firstly, it can help you understand yourself in
terms of your interests, values, ideas, and constraints. Secondly,
it can help you to make better decisions about your future.
For
example, some of us are achievement oriented, while
others are value oriented. Individuals, who are achievement
oriented, prioritize their goals ahead of their values and
will pursue those goals as their top priority. Individuals
who are value oriented will carefully consider their priorities
and values, considering only career goals that are consistent
with their priorities, even if this means a less interesting
or a less fulfilling career. |
