Ask-A-Career-Coach: How Do You Manage Your Job and Your Career?

Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart™

Your day-to-day job is not the same as your career. Your job is but a subset, and your career is made up of each successive job, as well as your accomplishments, publications, keynotes, branding and networks. Therefore, doing well, even spectacularly well, in your current role, is helpful to your career but not sufficient. With roles becoming more broadly defined and communication (and accountability) running 24/7, how do you carve time out of your day-to-day for not just your job but also your career?

Use parallel processing. I first mentioned parallel processing in my June 2 Ask A Coach, when I talked about balancing personal and professional goals. In this case, there are also two distinct and separate goals – your job and your career. You need different time, focus and activity on each, and the ability to maintain each in tandem with the other. Recognize this, accept it and schedule accordingly.

Use your job as a springboard for career planning. Collect testimonials and references from your current work. Join relevant trade associations that will help get your job done but also provide a broader network outside your immediate role. Use insights learned from your current job (nothing confidential, of course) to share with a wider platform via publishing or speaking at conferences.

Use your career management activities to make you more effective in your job. When you network outside the company, even outside your industry, don’t feel guilty about taking time away from your current work – use the different perspectives gleaned to add new dimensions to your current projects. Think about what your current company needs and who in your broader network might be helpful. In this way, you give to your company, you give to your network, and you strengthen your connections both ways.

This is not about working double-time. It is about having awareness that just executing the daily grind is not enough. You do not want to look up from your desk next July 2011 and be exactly where you are, not having connected with anyone or not having accomplishments known to the outside. Your job and career are separate entities, and both need attention.

P.S. My first book is out! “How the Fierce Handle Fear: Secrets to Succeeding in Challenging Times” 2010; Two Harbors Press includes 22 essays on fear. I write about fear and career transition, including my first extreme career shift from corporate to acting and the 3 strategies that I used to make the leap. Other contributors include Donald Trump, Jack Canfield and Pamela Slim. You can get the book on my site at http://www.sixfigurestart.com/about-sixfigurestart/fierce/, and it comes with a bonus mp3 of my workshop Onward! Overcoming Fear.

Caroline Ceniza-Levine is co-founder of SixFigureStart (www.sixfigurestart.com), a career coaching firm comprised exclusively of former Fortune 500 recruiters. Prior to launching SixFigureStart, Caroline recruited for Accenture, Booz Allen, Citigroup, Disney ABC, Oliver Wyman, Time Inc, TV Guide and others. Caroline offers a half-hour Complimentary Coaching Consultation to individuals who are interested in experiencing coaching and finding out more about how it can help them reach their career goals. To schedule a consultation, contact her at caroline@sixfigurestart.com.