Career Management
Tuesday, April 9th, 2013
“So, what do you do to keep the wolf from the door?” – or words to that effect – will usually be the sort of enquiry you will field when someone asks you what you do for a living. Rarely, if ever, will they ask you about your career, “your chosen career path”, and far less how you’re actually managing it. In fact the majority of people (although by no means all) rarely think in terms of ‘career’; they tend to think instead about their ‘job’. And so why, when our career is probably one of the most important aspects of our lives, do we spend so little time attending to its needs? Again, if you were to ask people if they are happy with their job, very few actually would say yes. Some might say ‘content’, but many would say, emphatically, ‘no’! But, just like the blinkered Clydesdale ploughing horses of that bygone era, they seem unaware of the glorious opportunities within their reach on either side, and just……well…..plough on.
Almost everything we’re involved with throughout our life will require regular maintenance if it is going to continue to keep its looks, structure, or perform and function well: Our health; our house; our garden; our car; our general appearance; our children’s education; our family; …our marriage(!) But whereas we might all agree with these basic life requirements – to some degree at least – the vast majority of people will still ignore the fact that continual ‘maintenance’ is also required to keep their career heading in the right direction, and achieving what it should: Our feeling of wellbeing. In fact, if you were to ask most people to describe what would be their ideal career, and then describe what they are actually doing right now, the difference in their answers would be astounding. So, again – Why??
The simple answer is that very few people realise that it’s within their grasp to do something about it. Career management companies exist in order to do just that – to help people to identify and then achieve opportunities, whether by improving their current situation, re-positioning themselves within their organisation, or even undertaking a complete career change. Working with an experienced and professional career manager can have significant and life-changing results, and in considerably more ways than might be imagined.
So – What is Career Management?
What is Career Management? Look on the internet and you’ll find a number of definitions, but perhaps it’s best summed up by: “Lifelong, self-monitored process of career planning that involves choosing and setting personal goals, and formulating strategies for achieving them.” So personal career management is a function that will address, ideally, your own principal needs – needs which are so often ignored through so-called ‘expediency’ (“I just need a job; I hate it, but it helps to pay the bills.”) Any career path should have a purpose, a structure or strategy which will include rewarding but achievable goals. Professional career management consultants will confirm that, once these primary building blocks are in place, the rest should follow. And with their help, guidance and continuing support, it’s eminently achievable. Although some people are quite capable of managing their career alone, it can be a very lonely task; there is, after all, one person who is really interested in your career: YOU. And despite the fact that close friends and family may be willing to offer support and encouragement, it tends to be neither as objective nor as professionally focused as that provided by those who have a wide experience gained within career management services.
The Outcome:
Career success can often be linked to financial success, although that’s a simple interpretation and clearly wrong. People can enjoy career success in almost anything they choose to do, and it will have absolutely nothing to do with money. A midwife who can look back on years of bringing countless babies into the world can claim to have a hugely successful (and satisfying) career, and possibly even more so than a fund manager with a leading investment bank. In fact there are many who work in the City, earning sizeable amounts but who feel neither happy nor fulfilled within their job. So what is required is a recognition of all the myriad aspects of a full career that will bring the most satisfaction and enjoyment, whether its autonomy, status, the ability to be creative, management prospects, geographical location, global travel, or simply being able to see the tangible results of your efforts every day. Every person is different, with totally different aspirations and interpretation of what they think is important. The expertise of a professional career manager will focus on how to support each one individually and address these areas of need directly. From that point on it then becomes a function which is best described as ‘regular maintenance’.
The whole concept of career management has to be non sector-specific – it can apply equally to those on the shop floor as to those who might seek executive career management. However the outcome of a focused, and maintained career management programme will be that the individual – whoever they are – will have had the blinkers removed, seen how they can exploit their full potential and, consequently, achieve that rarest of goals: a satisfying and rewarding career for life. And no more ploughing. (Farmers excluded.)
Wednesday, February 27th, 2013
The Career Management Organisation Ltd (TCMO) are delighted to announce the appointment of two new directors to their expanding business.
TCMO are Scotland’s most innovative Career Management and Outplacement Company assisting individuals achieve their potential and helping organisations navigate through change.
Whether unemployed, facing redundancy or just wishing to be in control of their own career, TCMO help people achieve challenging and rewarding career moves. Statistics indicate that people looking for a new career opportunity typically find work twice as fast as those who have no support. TCMO deliver their services on a 1:1 confidential basis backed up with their unique lifetime career support.
However, TCMO believe in “giving back to the community” and work with those less fortunate who may need assistance with CVs, Interview Techniques and Job Search Support. TCMO have formed a partnership with The Hibernian Community Foundation, working out of The Learning Centre based in the South Stand of Hibernian FC’s Stadium at Easter Road. http://www.hibernianinthecommunity.org.uk/
As a result of the increase in those needing support, the appointment of two new Directors is indicative of the vision and forward planning by TCMO to ensure they remain at the forefront of the Career Management and Outplacement sector not only in Scotland but throughout the UK.
Sandy Cullen has been appointed Director – Client Development with responsibility for further developing TCMO’s Private Client business acrossScotland.Sandyhas previously worked as an Associate for TCMO and brings a wealth of international career management experience and senior commercial business knowledge to the team.
Fiona MacDonald has been appointed Director – Client Services with responsibility for running the unique support service that TCMO provides as well as coordinating their team of Career Managers across theUK. Fiona has worked with TCMO since its inception and brings a unique blend of HR, recruitment and business management skills to the team and clients of TCMO. http://www.tcmo.co.uk/web/about.php
Rob Moore, Managing Director of TCMO said:
“Having both Sandy and Fiona as leaders within our business will further enhance our company profile, improve service levels to both private and corporate clients and ensure the continued growth of the business throughout 2013 and beyond.”
Rob Moore, Managing Director of TCMO can be reached on 07771 778187 or rob@tcmo.co.uk
Friday, February 1st, 2013
What is Career Management?
Good career management is key to short, medium and long term success and revolves around structured planning, professional advice and ‘smart’ activity all undertaken in a positive and timely way.
Who needs it?
In our opinion every person who is employed or looking to be employed should consider their career and how to manage it well in advance and on an ongoing regular basis.
The earlier in your career you start to manage it the better the progression and development will be.
Why?
As an individual you are fully responsible for taking care of your career management from start to finish, taking ownership early on will generate great results.
Those who rely on academia or their employers to manage their careers often find slow progress and wrong directions hinder their journey.
Where do I find out more?
It can be a real task researching and sourcing the right career management advice and as with any professional coaching you need to make sure it matches your exact needs.
There is a good mixture available both on and offline and services to suit all budgets and levels.
We often find clients that find us online are slightly sceptically about approaching a company they know will sell to them; we overcome this by always having face to face meetings to discuss and tailor make services to exact needs.
Careers are very personal so you may find online solutions don’t deliver to your specific learning needs.
Overall taking care of your career is simple to plan and deliver.
1) Set your goals
2) Plan what resource you need to achieve them
3) Seek help and advice
4) Set yourself realistic timescales
5) Set time aside to work on the plans
6) Go for it………
Friday, February 1st, 2013
If you are interested in learning more about Career Management, what it means and what it involves then hopefully by reading this article you will become informed.
Many people today are very focussed on progressing their “Career” and following a career path which not only rewards with an attractive remuneration package but which also challenges them and provides a great sense of achievement at the end of each working day. Finding a job and managing your career are two very different things, and whilst finding a job can be fairly straight forward, managing your career can often require professional support and guidance to ensure you do follow a successive path.
Career Management is a self driven process, guided by a team of professionals who understand your skill set, your experience, your achievements, your education and qualifications as well as your morals and beliefs in life. Together you and your Career Coach will set out a plan; short term or long term which will enable you to achieve your ultimate life goal/s. Whilst your goal/s need to be as ambitious as possible, it is also important that they are realistic, and this realism is where Career Management is most useful.
By managing your Career you are identifying; what you would like to do, what you are capable of doing and ultimately putting a plan in place to help you get to that final goal.
In the market today there are vast amount of professional Career Management companies available to provide this support, coaching and guidance, and very often will offer Lifetime Support with managing your Career – the value of this in today’s ever changing markets is a benefit which should not be underestimated.
If you choose to use the services of a Career Management Company it is crucial that you meet with a few different companies and identify the one which you feel will have your Career interests at heart, who will treat you as an individual and who you believe you could work with for the greater benefit of your Career. It is important to understand that Career Management Companies and Recruitment Companies are very different, and provide two very different services; Recruitment Companies will support the job searching of your Career Management, please do not ever confuse the two.
Thursday, November 1st, 2012
When selecting a Career Management Provider, it is absolutely essential that you ask all of the relevant questions up front to identify best practice and that is why the six honest serving men come into their own. Remember the poem:
“I keep six honest serving men,
they taught me all I knew;
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who”
Each of your questions should be open ended ensuring a response rather than a simple closed ended question which gives a simple yes / no answer. The first area to explore is Accreditation. Make sure that the provider has a Code of Practice and like The Career Management Organisation Ltd (TCMO) is a member of a recognised professional body such as the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
How transparent is the provider. All reputable Career Management providers will provide a free, no obligation consultation prior to any commitment on your behalf. Take this opportunity to ask open ended questions to ensure that they can meet your specific needs. TCMO offer at least two free consultations. So, we have now established that Accreditation and Transparency are important but there is one area that is even more important and that is People.
Career Management is all about people. You must have trust and belief in an individual or a team to deliver on your behalf. So before you commit, ask to meet the consultant or associate you will work with during the process. TCMO will not only invite you to meet their team, an invitation to see the operation is also included.
What technology is in use but more importantly what is the ratio of technology to human involvement ? Compare on-line offerings before you go ahead. Are they relevant to you; accessible 24/7 but above all, make sure they do not become a substitute for the personal touch.
What precisely does the provider offer you? Having taken advantage of the free consultation(s), does their proposal (in writing) match your needs and expectations?
Their proposal should represent “an investment in your career” tailored to you as an individual and not an “off the shelf” programme applicable to all and sundry.
Finally, what is the cost of the service? If your company is paying, you may have little choice but if you are funding the process, make sure that you get value for money. Also insist on a cooling off period similar to that offered by TCMO. On going career coaching and career advice is also something to consider as part of the package. Ask the questions; get honest answers; seek best practice; take ownership of your future career.
Monday, July 9th, 2012
It has been said that the one key element to being a good manager is the art of communication. This makes good sense, primarily because it recognises not only the benefit gained by ‘the team’ from knowing what their manager is thinking, planning, expecting but also by the manager from learning how members of the team are feeling, coping (or not), performing and, crucially, what ideas they may be able to put forward to help the general effort – particularly if the ‘basic plan’ has been communicated to them in the first place. Simple, you might say; and sound business practice.
Career Management is a process in which your career will be examined, pored over, discussed at length and, finally, greatly enhanced by communicating with a professional, such as a TCMO Career Manager, who will have your very best interests at heart. They will need to spend a great deal of time communicating with you, finding out your key skills, experience, likes, dislikes, ambitions; in short – what, essentially, makes you tick. But because the art of communication is a two-way process, in time the career manager will also be able to advise you as to your best course of action in moving your career forward – something which, for the vast majority of people, is invaluable. This sort of close communication on a 1-to-1 basis – as offered by TCMO – allows our career manager to get to know you so well, and in a purely objective sense, that the advice they can offer benefits by being tailored specifically to the individual with their own particular background, needs and aspirations. In other words – you.
Conversely, working in a group coaching session will by its very nature be a general, and possibly even formulaic, approach. The benefits that will undoubtedly arise, however, come from the direct interaction between the coach and the participants: “OK, Shirley, what questions at interview do you dread most?”; “Andy, what would be your dream job?”; “Karen, what do you think most employers look for first on a CV?” The group discussions that follow will be of huge benefit, especially (but not exclusively) to those who take part. Much will depend on the skill of the coach in retaining the interest of a group, but this is also where the key elements of communication will work well. So whereas a group coaching session will never be as effective as 1-to-1, handled well it can be both enjoyable and informative.
For a free consultation on your Career Management needs, contact TCMO today on 0131 201 0181 or visit www.tcmo.co.uk
