By: Barbara Bowes
Date: March 20, 2010
Winnipeg Free Press

Our world today is so complex that no one is expected to have all the answers.

Technology is changing at the speed of light. For instance, just as you were getting used to your cellphone, a new, updated version is released. Our daily work lives, once somewhat secluded from international events, are also now directly affected by what goes on in other parts of the world. As well, with so many more of our citizens living in different countries, people are travelling more than ever before.

With our lives seeming to be so fast paced and dynamic, one of the challenges we face is where to find a resource for specific advice. As you might expect, people typically seek advice from those closest to them such as parents, relatives, teachers, their boss, colleagues and/or their friends.

For health advice, we quickly think of our family physician, although many people are now sourcing their own information on the Internet. When we think of our financial future, we turn to trusted financial institutions and financial advisers who have access to historical data and trends and have experience investing in the global economy. Still, many people are also turning to the Internet and doing their own investing online.

What about career advice? Whom do people turn to? Where do people find the answers on what to do with the rest of their life? Although the concept of a career doesn't seem as immediate as, say, the issue of ill health, the advice people receive with respect to their career can indeed have an impact on their life for a long, long time. Yet, while professional career counsellors are available, people still tend to turn to those closest to them for career advice without considering the danger that any poor advice may bring.

When working on, thinking about and planning for their career, individuals need to pay more attention to selecting a career adviser. For instance, your boss may not be as objective as you think with respect to your career. I have met many a manager who deliberately held back an employee because they may have been jealous and didn't want their employee to get ahead. In other circumstances, I have seen employees held back because the manager simply didn't want to take the time to train someone else.

At the same time, I have seen parents guide their children toward a career that they had personally trained in or a career they wished they had taken up themselves. And I have seen an individual spend five years of their life training in a specialized profession for the simple reason that their group of friends was entering the same profession. As you might expect, once the individual began working in the field, they quickly recognized their mistake. Moving to another career was quite lengthy and painful.

While many in the workforce simply fell into their career, younger workers can no longer take a chance that they will land in the right career. People need to pay special attention to and match what they are good at and what they like to do with both their personality style and what really motivates them. Once individuals explore and find out what these personal characteristics are, they need to do a thorough investigation. This means examining industry trends, job profiles, the seasonality and longevity of various jobs, salary and compensation, ongoing training requirements and the overall career ladder.

And they need to think twice when they receive casual advice from friends, family and/or the boss. In many cases, these individuals are not in tune with today's careers and as a consequence, they may provide career advice that could lead individuals in the wrong direction. Some of this misguided advice includes the following:

A test will tell you -- There are indeed assessment tools in the market that can provide career guidance. However, accepting the results without considering other factors could get you into deep trouble and point you in the wrong direction. Instead, take a battery of assessments that provides a well-rounded view of all your personal characteristics and then directs you to look at a variety of options.

Focus your training in a hot job -- Hot jobs are those for which there is a scarcity of skilled workers. The problem is that hot jobs can quickly turn to cold jobs by the time an individual graduates. Thus, it is important to research industry trends to get a feel for the longevity of this career choice. Be sure the job training includes transferable skills rather than simply a focus on such specialty skills that could restrict you in the future.

Start your own business -- Just because you have a good deal of technical expertise and like to work independently, doesn't mean that you should be an entrepreneur. Starting and running your own business is a difficult choice for most people and it requires a whole tool kit of other skills plus a personality to match. So while being an Internet entrepreneur might sound glamorous with the hope of quick profits, that dream can turn into a nightmare. Be careful with this advice.

Only big companies provide security -- While larger organizations at one time could provide more job security and opportunity, this is no longer the case. Even government can no longer guarantee their jobs for life. In today's world, the only job security you will have is yourself and the skills and abilities that you develop and nurture. You will need to focus on career management all through your career.

Job change hurts you -- This advice is old and outdated. My career advice is that you should always be looking at opportunities. It is not to say that you would leave your current job, but looking at what is out there in the marketplace can help you appreciate the job you have. It can also help you recognize additional skills you might need, should you wish to leave your organization. And in many cases, your current employer, because of its size or other organizational factors, simply can't provide you with career progression and opportunities to learn new skills. If you are in the career driver seat, you need to thank your current employer for all the opportunities to date and then change jobs.

Our work world has changed considerably. This means that people need to become better managers of their own career and make personal career management a part of everyday life. As well, employees need to think twice when they receive casual advice from friends, family, co-workers or the boss. Instead, seek out a professional career counsellor and make sure you are heading in the right direction.

Barbara J. Bowes is president of Legacy Bowes Group, a leading Talent Management Solutions firm. She is also host of the weekly Bowes Knows radio show and is the author of several books. Barbara can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .