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Vol. XXI No. 2 October 2005 |
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 Short Term, Big Results When it comes to their careers, many people have trouble seeing the forest for the trees. They have a general sense of direction, but no real plan for getting there. At the same time, they often fret over long-term career issues (in the three- to five-year range) for which they have no immediate solution and cannot control. To alleviate this sense of uncertainty, I strongly recommend creating a short-term career plan. The three-month career plan is one of several strategies employed by successful people. Like a diet or a regular workout schedule, the short-term career plan is a system used to produce significant results in a relatively short time. This article will: 1. Help you to define short-term objectives; 2. Develop a research, action, and review schedule; 3. Secure a person in a position to help you learn and evaluate your progress.
In choosing your objectives, avoid generalities like "meet concert presenters" or "find an agent." Instead, focus on specifics like "meet with at least eight different casting agents," or "book five outreach concerts in Washington State." Below is a list of three objectives for a young violinist relocating to Santa Fe, N.M.:
Take Action After defining your objectives, the next phase is to achieve them through a series of weekly tasks. Each objective should have three action components: research, action, and review. The research stage is your opportunity to learn as much about your objectives as possible. Today, most research can be done on the Internet. Research involves investigating anything related to your topic. This often requires using different search criteria, and following links to sites that may have further information. Keeping a journal of your Internet travels is critical to your research strategy. But don't forget about other ways of uncovering information such as attending free workshops, browsing through bookstores, or even interviewing people who are in informational positions. Think globally about your research techniques. The broader your data-mining strategies, the more likely you are to realize opportunities, leads, and networks of resources. Once you've acquired some information, you enter the action phase, in which you follow up on leads and ideas that your research has uncovered. This usually involves phone calls, letters, e-mails, and the exchange of professional material. Finally, you complete your work with a review of the correspondence you sent during the action phase. Every unanswered correspondence and inquiry should receive a follow-up call or letter. These follow-ups are extremely important in today's fast-paced world. It's not uncommon for someone to set aside your phone message or e-mail with the intention of following up later. It's also just as easy for people to forget to respond until an embarrassing amount of time has elapsed. Upon discovering the unanswered inquiry, they may discard it, figuring that you must not have been that serious. Don't give them an opportunity to forget. Follow up with at least one message to see that they indeed received your first inquiry. The easiest way to fit all three of the research, action, and review components into your schedule is to set aside a different day of the week for each component. I recommend no less than 30 minutes per component. An hour is usually sufficient. Consider a routine of a Monday morning research hour, a Wednesday morning action hour, and a Friday morning review hour. The combination of these components coupled with a consistent schedule is guaranteed to produce results. Evaluation and Mentoring This final stage of your career plan is important because evaluation and mentoring help you assess your learning and your commitment to the plan. It also provides an opportunity to see how far you've traveled in a short time. This is best done in conjunction with someone you trust. Ideally, this person should be senior to yourself and in a position to accentuate your progress by providing insights and suggestions. You should think about people who might play this role in your career plan and ask someone to commit to a partnership before you begin. He or she should have a copy of your plan prior to your first day, and be willing to meet with you at the end of each month. Along the way, that person's field knowledge and career expertise will prove invaluable in your quest. A mentor's perspective can significantly augment your objectives. I hope this quick outline is enough to get you started. If you would like to review a sample outline of a three-month career plan, or discuss possible strategies for developing your own, please feel free to schedule an appointment in the Office of Career Development. | ||||
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