| An organization’s success depends on its people. | | | | drivers of change before they happen and quickly |
| The stronger the knowledge and skills of the | | | | chart a new course for your career path. |
| individuals the stronger the organization becomes. | | | | To begin you must first look for drivers of change in |
| The United States economic downturn has caused | | | | the organizational landscape of your company. Then |
| some companies to downsize—which is creating a | | | | research and list all of these changes you see coming |
| paradigm shift in the way people manage their | | | | in career trends. My career path research found a |
| careers and their jobs. Organizations are no longer | | | | recent article in Money Magazine—which listed |
| as willing to provide the necessary funding to | | | | Information Security as the 10th fastest growing |
| individuals for career and skills development. | | | | profession in the United States with a projected |
| Economic changes are inevitable and without the | | | | growth of 27 percent between the year 2006 and |
| necessary skills individuals will lack the career edge | | | | 2016. I also located an article in Government |
| they require to survive in this current job market. | | | | Information Security News that outlines an effort by |
| You must first be able to recognize the driving forces | | | | the office of personnel management (OPM) to retain |
| creating change in our economy to quickly adapt and | | | | and hire Information Security experts. |
| create a career edge. A classic mistake is for an | | | | In addition, Information technology is also one of the |
| individual to think about only one career path at a | | | | stronger careers with less unemployment rates than |
| time leaving themselves to the whims of the | | | | the national average. A recent quarterly report by |
| companies who are downsizing. | | | | Robert Half Technology IT hiring Index and Skills |
| Individuals are now forced to take a new view at | | | | report states that 83% of companies plan to |
| how they are managing their careers and create new | | | | maintain their current IT staffing levels. |
| career paths to broaden career choices. During this | | | | The second step in the planning process is to use |
| time of unprecedented economic transformation | | | | your creative energy to determine risks and develop |
| organizations must now evolve in order to do | | | | new ideas, and career options. By determining the |
| business and adapt. The importance of flexibility and | | | | risks, you can start building a what-if flow chart of |
| adaptability expand down to the individual level and in | | | | outcomes. Taking a calculated risk can advance |
| order to quickly adapt you must first learn to | | | | your career; however, if you fear the unknown you |
| manage change and your career. | | | | can gain confidence by simply evaluating the evidence |
| Change is the law of life and those who look to the | | | | concerning future outcomes. If any of these |
| past or present are certain to miss the future. | | | | outcomes look positive start testing some your ideas. |
| ~~John F Kennedy | | | | These are all risk-taking strategies that will work but |
| You do not want to set yourself off on the wrong | | | | not without certain amount of strategic planning. |
| path—or you might find yourself left with no | | | | Take calculated risks. That is quite different from |
| career options. You must create forward-thinking | | | | being rash. |
| ways to transform your approach to career | | | | ~~George S Patton |
| development and avoid a career disaster through | | | | Finally after you have chosen your new career path, |
| taking the long view approach to career planning. | | | | continue to strengthen your position by face-to-face |
| The long view approach incorporates future change | | | | networking, and personal branding. |
| by projecting current economic, political, and | | | | Taking the long view will allow you to proactively |
| technological drivers into futures scenarios. This has | | | | manage your career. Remember that your career |
| been called strategic planning, scenario planning, and | | | | must be re-evaluated based on driving forces and |
| strategic flow charting. These same principles can | | | | quickly evolve based on current and future career |
| be applied to career planning. This is not a short | | | | trends. To succeed you must be the one leading |
| term investment—but an investment that will help | | | | career change and not just getting caught up in it. |
| you stay ahead of paradigm shifts by recognizing the | | | | |