Tough Times Are a Litmus Test for Whether You’re in the Right Caree

You don’t need me to tell you thatthe business climate is very uncertain, to say the least. So many industriesare taking a hit, and everyone is asking you: “How’s your business?”

It’s likely that you’re busier thanever. If you have clients, they need hand-holding and persuading. If you’re atan organization, it is likely to be very lean at the moment; you may be doingthe job of two or three people. The question on the table, that you may be toopreoccupied to ask yourself, is: Have you considered your own career lately?

Now you may scoff at this question.After all, you may have logged many years in your position or industry, it mayfeel like your calling. And perhaps it is. If it is, you can stop reading here,no need to consider this further, you have more than enough on your plate.

But if this question strikes achord, or at least gives you pause, you may want to read on.

The truth is, it’s never a bad timeto assess your career. If you’re forward-thinking you make it your business todo it periodically, just to make sure you’re on the right track. There are manyways to conduct a career assessment, and I’ll address that later. The point is:right now, in a down economy, do you have the time and inclination to work onyourself?

That depends on how satisfied youfeel in your career today. You may say: How can I feel satisfied in my careerwhen the market is in such bad shape? There’s so much pressure right now, howcan I really enjoy the work I’m doing?

What would you say if I told youthat the right career is one that feels that way most of the time? It shouldnot feel right when business is up and wrong when business is down. You shouldfeel confident most of the time that you are engaged, growing and making acontribution, whatever that means to you. I’m not ignoring the fact that workmay be frustrating right now, but that shouldn’t bring you down, day after day.If you start your days feeling challenged and regularly end with a sense offailure, something is definitely wrong.

You may not be in one of the fewindustries that is currently growing. But putting aside that you might not beas financially successful this year as during the last few years, what doesyour career really mean to you? What aspects of the profession keep you charged up and ready to dig ineach day? Do you have the interest, skills and talent to stay where you are orshould you invest your energies elsewhere?

If you are feeling frustrated andenervated in a tough market, you may want to explore some new career tracks.It’s never a bad time to investigate, you don’t have to make a move untilyou’re ready.

Join me here next time as I providesome ideas on conducting your own career assessment. Meanwhile, I welcome yourquestions and comments.