As we celebrate this Independence Day, we really are celebrating our freedom of choice. When it comes to managing your career the ultimate goal is to have options and to choose a path that aligns best with your skills, values and interests. Even if the writing is on the wall with your current job or you feel your role is in jeopardy it is a much better feeling to choose to leave when you know you have other options. Knowing your options comes both with a high level of self awareness about who you are and what you want as well as being vigilant about what is going on around you in terms of companies hiring, industry trends and the general job market.
Choosing not to stay in a job or choosing to decline a job because it doesn’t fit is also very empowering. When people feel trapped in a job I often remind them that there are always choices, it just depends on how many trade offs you are willing to make. When job seekers feel compelled to take the first job offer that comes along I remind them that just because it is the first offer doesn’t mean it’s the best job for them.
We are fortunate to live in a country that provides us with the freedom to choose. Whether you are in a job or in between don’t forget that you have a choice when it comes to career decision making.
