Which One is Your Career Path?
– Musings of Dr. Jamie C. Hsu, 7.23.2018
The changing business landscape and emerging new technologies have created or altered career paths for many people. Depending on the industry, business, and nature of work, career paths look different and require different skills to navigate.
Ideally, a well laid-out, visible stair or ladder is there for the aspiring young person to climb to reach the pinnacle of success. That may happen if someone is the heir apparent to take over a family business or working in a stable company with lifetime employment. Consider yourself lucky if that is the case for you. Many books and training classes are available to teach you the art of climbing this type of well-defined corporate ladder.
In reality, however, you’ll find that your career path is more like rock climbing. You need the ability to scope the big picture of the cliff and the skills to anchor your hands and feet in the crevices and cracks. Or maybe your career path is like blazing a trail in a deep forest. You may know the general direction, but need to fight your way through brush and tree limbs.
Sometimes, your path is more like crossing a stream with torrents and rapids. You need to find stable footing and then search for the next flat rock to jump on. If not careful, your career may take a deep plunge and be swept away by the current.
To navigate your career path successfully, you need to understand the type of business you are in, master the skills required, and seek the right opportunities. Most importantly, you should find a sponsor or mentor to champion your career, a coach to teach you the skills, or a guide to show you the route and the pitfalls along the way.
And lastly, the type of career path you choose will depend on your personality and passion; Are you a risk taker, a prudent thinker, an impulsive go-getter, or the laid-back easy-going type? There are many factors to consider when finding the best career path for yourself. Regardless, hard work and thorough preparation will always pay off.
哪條路才是你職涯的王道？
-作者 許俊宸博士
-中譯 薛乃綺
由於商業環境與新興技術不斷在演變，這為許多人創造、抑或是改變了他們的職涯道路。根據不同的行業、業務和工作性質，職涯道路也會有所不同，需要不同的技能來引導。
理想的情況下，一條布建良好的康莊大道或階梯，可以讓有抱負的年輕人攀登，達到成功的巔峰。前提是，如果你是家族企業的接班人、或者你待在一家穩定發展、有終生俸的公司，那麼上述的狀況才比較可能會發生。如果你遇到這樣的狀況，請你要覺得自己很幸運。許多的書或培訓課程可以教你攀登上這類康莊大道的”門道”。
但實際上，你會發現你的職涯道路更像是在攀岩。你需要有能力去確認整個攀岩的大局、以及能將手腳固定在縫隙和裂縫中的技能。又或者你的職涯道路像是在森林深處寻闢蹊徑；你可能知道個大方向，但你需要排出许多的樹叢和碎枝來釐清出向前的道路。
有時，你的道路會像是穿越洪流和急湍。你需要站穩腳步，然後找到下一個平坦的岩石來跳踏。如果一個不小心，你的職涯道路也許就會暴跌，並且被當中的暗流沖走。
要成功駕馭自己的職涯道路，你需要了解所處的業務型態、掌握所需的技能、並且尋求合適的機會。最重要的，你應該找到一個貴人或導師來引導你的職涯、一個教練來教導你技能、或一位有经验的响導来指出這條路的方向和陷阱。
最後，你選擇的職涯道路類型，會取決於你的個性和激情。你是個風險承擔者？還是個謹慎的思考家？一個有衝勁的幹將？還是個隨和容易相處的人？要為自己找到最好的職涯道路，有許多因素需要考慮的。無論如何，努力工作和充分的準備，總會得到回報。
