Category Archives: career column

a series of essays, commentary, opinions, roasts and research on all matters relevant to careers, career development, job hunting, psychology and all that jazz

Job Hopping- are claims it is bad for your career justified?

Another way of looking at this data would be to say, if your path to the CEO route looks to be blocked in one company then moving a couple of times may only delay you by about 12 – 18 months in the worst case scenario that you would have made it to CEO had you stayed put. If, however, you wouldn’t have made it had you stayed put, then moving has probably got you to the CEO role faster than staying put. Continue reading

Posted in career column | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Fear – the major barrier in career development

Fear stifles some of the most important career behaviours we need to exhibit to be successful in the 21st century workplace such as flexibility, openness, persistence, curiosity, creativity, teamwork, and leadership. Continue reading

Posted in career column | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Job Hunting and dating a socially or sexually transmitted metaphor?

When I published a book in 2000 saying that job hunting was like dating (Resumes the get shortlisted, by Jim Bright and Jo Earl, Allen & Unwin), I never expected the reverse situation to occur, but apparently my esteemed Herald colleague and expert in all matters sexual, Samantha Brett, thinks so. Continue reading

Posted in career column | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Career development better than sex or an alternative?

Maybe the term “Career Development” is less resonant than it was half a decade ago. If that is the case, it is ironic given that some professional groups such as the Career Development Association of Australia recently changed their name to include this term. Equally another group I belong to, the National Career Development Association in the US, may want to take note. When we compare the search pattern on the simpler term “Careers” we see a very different and more positive story. Continue reading

Posted in career column | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Communication and Engagement in the workplace

entered the office of a colleague (who had been university friend). Our boss was in there with my friend, and looked up and simply said “F___ Off” James” and my friend, in a supine gesture reiterated the instruction in precisely the same terms. Some friend. Continue reading

Posted in career column | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chaos Theory of Careers and Edward Lorenz

The Chaos Theory of Careers asserts we should consider our careers much in the same way we think about the weather. That there are broad patterns of relative stability, but at the same time there are significant patterns of instability and that trying to predict much in advance is futile. Continue reading

Posted in career column | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Career improvisation

Making it up as you go along is probably one of the most effective success strategies you can implement. The trouble is that patrons of the predictable try to brainwash lesser mortals like you and me with their grand narratives (tall stories) about how anyone can achieve complete control of their lives. Continue reading

Posted in career column | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment