10 Career Myths
- This job is for life - now I can stop worrying about my future career.
Not true! In the workforce today, like it or not, you can never become complacent about your career. There is no single perfect occupation or right career for everyone, and chances are you will have several shifts in your career direction over your working life.
- Never move sidewards or backwards, only upwards.
Sometimes the best move is not vertically. If a move sidewards, across or downward is the right fit at this time for your career, then it’s the right move for you.
- I’m too old to learn new skills.
Far from it! We never stop learning – even when we leave the workforce. Your skills are a valuable resource for your ministry and it is never too late to invest in your development or to contemplate a shift in your career direction.
- I’m too young to apply for a promotion.
If you have the skills and competencies required for the position, then why not try? Focus on your strengths and how you add value to the position.
- There will be some test or someone out there who can tell me what to do.
If it were only as simple as doing a test! In reality, all a test, or career counselor can do is to give you different perspectives and broaden your thinking to explore and consider different options. At the end of the day you are the person who is best placed to make decisions about your career.
- Once I choose a career I’m going to be stuck there forever.
No you won’t. And the skills you have acquired will not go to waste either. As the workforce is becoming more mobile, cross-functional and portable skills will strengthen your employability, freeing you up to consider a variety of career options.
- If things are changing so fast at work it’ll be impossible to plan for the future.
Although we cannot predict the future workforce landscape, we can predict that it will be different from today. Scan the environment to consider blips on the horizon that may be lead indicators of future workplace environments.
- Most people have a clear vision on what and how their career should unfold.
It’s unusual in today’s workforce with the multitude of opportunities, to set a course in a particular direction and stay on course. It’s OK to be unsure and it’s OK to change your mind.
- It’s my boss’s job to worry about my development and what learning activities I should go on.
It is true that your supervisor has an interest in your career, however, ultimately you are responsible for the direction and timing of your career and for the choices you make.
- All jobs will have a standard set of duties and responsibilities that outline the total job.
Often you will have a job description for a particular position, however in today’s dynamic, flexible learning organization, be open to new opportunities and growth on the job.