Why
do most people always feel happy on weekends when they don’t have to be at
work? What’s the reason for peoples’ lack of productivity in their workplace?
Why do some people seemingly look like square pegs in round holes in their jobs
or in the course of study? The answer is not far-fetched; the reason is because
they have little or no knowledge on the essence of Career Prospecting. A
Research was conducted in the year 2000 at University of Ibadan, Nigeria. It
was also revealed that 236 Graduating Medical students were asked this
question: “If given a second opportunity, would you study medicine again?
Interestingly, 24 percent said they would still study medicine, while the remaining
76 percent said they wouldn’t. Come to think of it, they all were already
medical doctors. The 76 percent group might just have been influenced by
pressures from family, peers, or being enticed by the prestige and honour
accorded to medics. Just like them, more people are making the same mistake
studying and working in career they have ability for. According to the Bureau
of Labour Statistics, the average person spends 8.8 hours per day at work which
is a little above 9,000 per hours per year which equates to one-third of your
life. This much time cannot be given to a job or spent on career that won’t
guarantee or give you life fulfillment. Everything is made clearer and better
with the right knowledge of Career Prospecting.
WHAT IS CAREER PROSPECTING
There’s
a popular saying that “you don’t test deep waters with both feet”.
That is absolutely right. Before you think of studying a course or charting a
career, then you need to first do your findings. This will give you the
required knowledge on what exactly you are committing yourself into. To have a
broader understanding of what Career Prospecting is all about, first let’s
define both terms.
What
is Career?
There
are a lot of definitions of Career, but here’s my definition:
“A
career is a profession, calling or field of endeavour for which someone trains
and considerably undertakes as a means of earning a living or as one’s life
work - as a means of fulfilling purpose.”
According
to Wikipedia; the online encyclopedia, the word “career” ultimately originates
from the Latin word “carrus” which means “wheeled vehicle”. In other words, a
career is a vehicle that helps one progress in life through training and
experience.
What
is Prospecting?
The
word “prospect”
is from the Latin word “prospectus” which means “a view or
outlook”
This
means “Career Prospecting” has do with taking a good view on which
field of endeavour, profession or calling has the best possibilities for you.
With
theses definitions in mind, it is much easier to understand the whole essence
of Career Prospecting. But for further understanding, and to also help you make
the right choice in order to aid your career growth, you need to identify the
ways you can go about finding the prospect of any career.
Here
are three (3) ways you can do so:
1.
DO
A SELF-EVALUATION
It
is said that first and best victory is to conquer self. The right way to do is
to be ypur own critic. Don’t get me wrong, doing self-evaluation doesn’t mean
that you are not good enough or that you should be harsh on yourself. But
rather it is about knowing your ability by getting an honest feedback via
evaluation tests. You can solicit for some constructive criticisms from honest
friends too. I also recommend you do a Personal SWOT Analysis. Through
this, you are to discover your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and
threats. This becomes more helpful as it will help to be able to align yourself
with the career opportunities that suit your analysis. More so, if you are
currently working, it will help to communicate your current state of mind, and
help you create an action-plan to improve your workplace performance.
2.
BE ON A LIVE UPDATE
The
world is gradually moving from the Industrial age to the Information age. So,
the need to be on a live update is very expedient. It is often said that a man
is either old or young at 80 or 20 if he keeps learning or if he stops
learning. The decision to learn, unlearn and relearn is very essential in
Career Prospecting. Whether you are a fresher, an entrepreneur or an engaged
worker, it pays to be armed with current information in your industry, and
potential career. Magazines, news sites, and blogs can all help you become a
master in your chosen field and propel your career forward. Being able to know
and share recent trends and findings from a career-minded standpoint show you
have a growth mindset.
3.
NETWORK
No
one is self-made because no man is an island. We all need the input of others
in what we do in order to become who we desire to be. There are countless times
I made and also received referrals in my workspace. Building meaningful
relationships that can sharpen your professional sensitivity; enhance what you
do; and take you beyond the boundaries of mediocrity is very important for
personal success. By building and sustaining professional social networking
profiles, seeking mentorships, attending seminars and workshops, and
participating in forums, you sure increase your chances of creating powerful
connections that can boost your career prospects. Get to know the best people
in your field of endeavour, study their success secrrtes and if possible build
a relationship with them. The Law of Attraction says that “Like begat like”. Be
nice and do yourself the favour.
Cheers!
By:
Nwosu J. Obichi
