By Linda Allen
Faculty Member, School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math at American Public University
When I was just starting my career in the mid-1980s, one of the questions I remember being asked in job interviews was “where would you like to be in 10 or 15 years?” For some reason, I always found that question the hardest to answer because I never had a well-defined long-term plan to guide my career. Now, after working for over 30 years, one of the comments I frequently receive from people is “what an interesting career you have had!”
In the intervening years, I put considerable effort and thought into shaping my career trajectory. My approach to developing a career path was focused on looking for opportunities and continuously reassessing my own goals and interests instead of developing a grand plan. I would like to share a few thoughts on developing a career path.
When you start a new career or job, often it is only with time that you will determine what aspects of your profession or job that you excel at and find most rewarding. Trudging up a learning curve is never easy, but it is an essential process for finding where within your profession your strengths and interests lie, which then can be used to guide your career in the future. Don’t be in a hurry–take time to learn as much as possible about all aspects of a job.
If your specific job limits your ability to explore your interests, then seek out opportunities beyond your job. For example, work on special projects within your organization that might allow you to gain some new experiences. You can also learn from more experienced colleagues about aspects of the profession that you might not work on directly.
[Related: College Degree Choice and Your Career]
Opportunities to learn about your profession exist outside of the workplace, such as with professional or trade associations and job related training. Don’t be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone and work on or learn about something that might not seem interesting; you might be surprised that it resonates with you after all!
When you think you are ready to take on new responsibilities or challenges, reflect on your past experiences and what would be a good match for your strengths and interests; make your decisions based on that assessment. Use the knowledge you have gained on the job to guide your career choices. This approach to developing a career path is a form of adaptive management. You make decisions based on past experiences rather than following a plan developed without the benefit of these insights.
Everyone’s career path is different. Regardless of the specific trajectory a person’s career takes, moving your career along a desirable path takes a lot of learning, a willingness to take some risk, and a little serendipity!
About the Author: Dr. Allen has a broad background in environmental engineering, management, and policy, and has over 25 years of experience working in both the private and public sectors in the areas of pollution prevention, solid and hazardous waste, potable water, wastewater, and natural resources management and conservation in the U.S. and abroad. She has a B.S.in mechanical engineering, M.S. in environmental engineering, M.B.A., M.P.A., and Ph.D. in public policy, and is also a registered professional engineer in mechanical and civil engineering.
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