Managing Your Career

Managing your Career, it’s like a route map – you just need to know where you are going!

Are you trusting in fate or planning and managing your career? If we have a route map of where we want to go in our careers, the more likely we are to get there. It will also prove to a prospective Captain / employer that you are serious about your work in the industry.

Whether you intend to stay on yachts for a couple of years or a lifetime, you will need to consider your career choices. When should you “jump ship”, or when should you “stay the test of time”? Every move should be considered as part of the ‘grand plan’! Every job should give you the opportunity to develop skills which will be invaluable to you in the future, on board (and / or ashore). They can range from organisational skills to managing people or to specific competencies.

The document should form the basis of your career plan and the more information you include, the easier it will be to identify next steps and track your progress.  Ensure your goals are is ‘SMART’.

Specific	Clear statement as to what your goal is. What and why do you want to achieve? The greater the detail and clarity of the end result, the more effective the process.
Measurable	The goal needs to be measureable in terms of a successful outcome.
Achievable	Realistic but challenging – within sight but out of immediate reach.
Relevant	Relating to your ultimate career goal.
Time bound	Within specified time limits.

 

Review your document regularly, are you still on track? Is your career goal still relevant, or have your priorities changed? If you hide it away it will be of no help – discuss it with people you feel can help and support you, and most importantly share it with your Captain and Head of Department – you never know how they may be able to help, even if your new plan is to leave the industry (that too requires a career plan).

As Churchill said “He who fails to plan, is planning to fail”.

Impact Crew can support you in your career progression both in and out of the industry. Drop us a line to discuss how one of our team can work with you to create your master plan.