The Unique Value of Careers

Posted by on Oct 7, 2011 in careers, exploring, Uncategorized, work | 1 comment

The Unique Value of Careers

Sometimes writing an article, jotting down some notes,
or just getting thoughts and ideas down on a page,
helps to get things in order.

You don’t have to write for anyone else,
or share what you write if you don’t want to.
It doesn’t have to be right either,
But it does have to be written.

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At no other time has the need for career support, encouragement and education been greater than it is today. Every person, regardless of their working-age, faces more choices, has access to more information and is challenged like never before to interpret their personal feelings about work. At no other time in history have career choices been as diverse and career decisions been so important.

Whether you are currently working, retired or in-training, if you have any experience of supporting people as they make choices and decisions about work, your experience is important and its importance is growing. The choice you made to support other people’s careers has already had its effect. This choice brought you face-to-face with moments of doubt and life-changing decisions. It gave you first-hand experience of what works and why, of touch-and-go personal battles, seemingly insurmountable challenges and remarkable turn-arounds – even when all appeared lost. The choice you made and the work it resulted in – the sitting, shadowing, talking and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with people as they lived through unsettling indecision and change – this experience of work is where the greatest of advantages can be found and it is where, how and why you can make the most difference.

No one can see the future but determined groups of people can bring their influence to bear and bring change. The greatest future for careers is one where no question or no choice goes unsupported. Where no-one ever sees their career as a lost cause, where there is always someone to listen or safeguard or nurture. The perfect future for careers might always be out of reach but it is possible to aim ourselves towards it. As career professionals we can also feel alone and unsupported, especially when we’re faced with impossible-looking tasks. But the reality is we’re also uniquely able to act in these situations. As career professionals, we’re the ones who know how to respond positively, how to plan careful steps during difficult times, how to build secure looking bridges across chasms and gaps. We know how to do all of this because we’ve done it for others countless times before. We can help to create brighter, better futures for careers – our experience makes it all possible.

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One Comment

  1. Much truth here Paul, an honest and personal reflection on difficult times.

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