Who Is In Charge Of Your Career Development?

Who Is In Charge Of Your Career Development?
by Joyce P. Edwards

In the process of developing your career strategy, Career Services is your link to companies looking for people with your skills. But acquiring a career and succeeding at it are your responsibilities. So, for how much of your collegiate time have you reflected on what you want versus what you do not want in life? Some students know, without any doubt, what they want to do or be in life. But you may be one of those students uncertain about life and a career, one still pondering what you enjoy doing and how what you enjoy fits into some job market strategy that makes sense and is satisfying. I suggest that you set aside some time each day in your schedule to think about what you enjoy doing in such a way that you find a career you can enjoy for your entire life. (In the words of' Michelangelo, Lord, grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish.)

Your college or university is a place where career preparation is readily available to you. To maximize your academic training, you must be willing to take advantage of all resources. As you prepare for your career, helpful avenues and situations will unfold. Don't be afraid to explore them. Take advantage of the opportunities that will launch you to the next step toward your desired outcome. People will appear. Don't be afraid to ask them for advice and guidance.

You need to make sense of what are you verbalizing: What feelings do you associate with your verbalization? How much of what you verbalize is conducive to what you want your experience in life to be? You must feel good about your choices, because these choices influence your selection of career opportunities. Your career is finally an outgrowth of your academic readiness and the time given to doing the things you like.

Allow Career Services, networking opportunities, faculty, administrators and other professionals to be catalysts in the actualization of your desired outcome. Stop by Career Services. We can help you find a career that you will enjoy.

Joyce P. Edwards is Interim
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Career Services,
North Carolina A&T State University.