PHI THETA KAPPA International Honor Society of the Two Year College

It was not uncommon for people of our parents’ generation to work for one company their entire life. Within the parameters of that employment, employees relied upon their company to provide them with the training and the skills necessary to advance within that organization. But in recent years, corporate culture has changed dramatically and so has the contract between employers and employees. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a strategic plan for your career path.

Today, an employee must have the initiative to seek out the skills and training necessary to advance their career without relying upon their employer to suggest or supply it. Considering the number of years you will devote to your working life, you need to assume the role of CEO in directing your own career.

For starters, take a look at the job you hold now and the job you want to attain in the next five years. On a sheet of paper, make two columns. In one column, make a list of the skills you currently possess for the position you have now. In the second column, list the skills you believe you will need for the job you hope to attain. Rate the skills in each column in terms of their importance. Now, compare both lists. How many skills for these two jobs do you already have? How many skills don’t you have? These are the skills you need to work at developing in order of priority.

As a member of Phi Theta Kappa, you have already demonstrated your ability to achieve the goals you set for yourself. Be sure you take the additional step as the CEO of your career by taking full advantage of all the benefits that your college, your workplace and Phi Theta Kappa have to offer you on your journey to professional success. One sure way to get started now is by checking out all the professional career advice and job search tools that are available to you right here on the Career Resource Center site.