Making Your Way: Shaping a Career Trajectory

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Making Your WayShaping a Career Trajectory

• Angela Jackson, MD
• Associate Dean, Office of Student Affairs
• Associate Professor of Medicine
• Boston University School of Medicine

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Career Trajectory

• What defines your careers direction?
• Serendipity (Opportunities)
• Planned course and systematic progress
• Both ?
• Job satisfaction vs Promotion?
• Job variety

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Making Your Way Todays Session

• Inventory of your experiences and expectations
• Self Assessment
• Career Mapping

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Key Steps in Career Development

• Self assessment
• Self promotion
• Identifying Opportunities

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Key Steps in Career Development

• Self assessment
• Self promotion
• Identifying Opportunities
• Help from your mentor.

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Key Steps in Career Development

• Self assessment
• Self promotion
• Identifying Opportunities

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Self AssessmentTo thine own self be true

• Skills What do I do well? What can I improve?
  What do I want to do?
• Knowledge What do I know? What do I want to
  know? What do I need to know?
• Interests What do I like?
• Values What is important to me?

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Values What is really matters to you?

• Flexibility
• Location
• Lifestyle
• Relationships
• Professional
• Personal

• Autonomy
• Money
• Service
• Innovation
• Reputation
• Stability

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• Skills
• Knowledge
• Interests
• Values

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Putting it Together

• Are you developing SKILLS and KNOWLEDGE in the
  areas that INTEREST you?
• Do your VALUES seem consistent with your SKILLS,
  KNOWLEDGE, and INTERESTS?
• What is missing? What doesnt fit?

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Controlling Serendipity- Plot your Trajectory

• Career Map
• Milestones
• Mentors

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CAREER MAPPING Future date

• Major Steps
• Milestones
• Resources
• Mentors role

• Obstacles
• Challenges
• Detours (Plan B)

Todays date
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Career Mapping

• Steps
• Start Define where you are
• Destination Define where you want to be
• Explore alternate routes
• Plan for potential potholes and detours
• Milestones Are you making progress?

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Milestones Marking your Progress

• Short term - Intermediate - Long-term
• SMART goals (http//www.projectsmart.co.uk/pdf/sma
  rt-goals.pdf)
• S - specific, significant, stretching
• M - measurable, meaningful, motivational
• A - attainable, achievable
• R - realistic, relevant, rewarding
• T - timely

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CAREER MAPPING Future date

• Major Steps
• Milestones
• Resources
• Mentors role

• Obstacles
• Challenges
• Detours (Plan B)

Todays date
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Career Mapping

• Take the wheel self-knowledge
• Tool mold opportunities that come your way
• Transform assigned tasks into opportunities
• Recognize progress or lack of progress
• Correct course
• Fill in the gaps

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Road Rules

• Find a niche
• Make it count twice
• Low impact, high yield
• Network
• Be visible be respected be indispensable
• Get recognized for what you do self-promotion

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Keeping Track of Your Progress

• Portfolio for Academic Advancement
• SMART Goals
• Identify methods
• Identify potential barriers
• Identify milestones
• Document activities

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What do you want your mentor(s) for?

• Defining career goals
• Appropriate job selection
• Time management set goals/priorities
• Understanding requirements for promotion
• Choosing a research focus/scholarly interest
• Maintaining productivity milestones/timelines

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What else?

• Mentors provide constructive critical feedback on
  performance
• Facilitate introductions to key people
• Write letters of recommendation
• Submit names for awards and committees
• Explore external funding options
• Help in grant and manuscript preparation
• Can advise on interpersonal issues/balancing home
  and career
• Acculturation

Zerzan JT, Hess R, Schur E, Phillips RS, Rigotti
N. Making the most of mentors a guide for
mentees. Acad Med. 2009 Jan84(1)140-4