I see many questions from readers, where I observe a general lack of focus on their career, or yet some of them who have chosen the wrong career do not make the effort to switch. I have finally got down to putting a few thoughts to help the general reader to get the best out of his or her career.
My thoughts are based on the following trade offs:

• Career first or Qualification first
• Local or International
• Academic or Professional
• Experience or Qualification
• Specialize or Broaden
• Medium term or Long term
• MBA now or Later
• Do what I like or do what makes me money

Career development and the career planning process include a number of specific steps that help to identify personal skills and attributes. Finding out how those skills can be utilized in the job market is accomplished by researching a number of career fields that are of interest to you and then by gaining experience in those fields and/or speaking to people currently working in the field. Participating in some form of experiential education or gaining internship will help you to identify if the field is the right choice for you. For example if you do like fashion designing then you could start as an intern in the industry and then assess your likeability.

Step 1: Self-Assessment
Evaluating who you are as a person. This involves taking a personal inventory of who you are and identifying your individual values, interests, skills, and personal qualities. What makes you tick as a person. You will look at those personal attributes under a microscope and come up with key qualities you can identify and use in your search for the perfect career. Career assessments may be required to promote a better understanding of personal attributes and skills. You can log on to www.humanmetrics.com to do this test.

Step 2: Research (Career Exploration)
Obtain an insider's perspective about the career field you are considering. This involves talking to people and doing your research in person, phone, or by email. Professionals enjoy sharing their expertise with people interested in the field, their perspective of the field and listen to what they have to say. This strategy provides first hand knowledge from someone currently working in the field and gives you an opportunity to ask about their experiences as well as potential jobs and what one might expect if one is just entering the field.

If possible try to gain experience through internships or by job shadowing for one to several days to see what a typical work day entails and gain a perspective of what the environment is like and the typical job responsibilities of someone working in the field. For example you may want to work with a sales rep to identify and analyze the specific skills required.

Step 3: Decision-Making
When you've made a thorough self-assessment and have done some research of career options, it's time to make a decision. This can be difficult since there may still be many unknowns and a fear of making the wrong choice. One thing for sure is that although we can do all the necessary steps for making an informed decision, there is no absolute certainty that we are unquestioningly making the right decision. This uncertainty is easier for some people than others but a key point to remember is that you can always learn from any job you have and apply those skills at your next job.

Step 4: Search (Taking Action)
It's now time to look for prospective jobs and/or employers, send out cover letters and resumes, and begin networking with people in the field. Keep in mind that cover letters and resumes are designed to make a favourable impression on employers (if done properly) and the interview process is what will ultimately get you the job. In other words, make sure your cover letter and resume highlight your skills and strengths based on the employer's needs and that you are fully prepared to knock their socks off at the interview. Take time to research the employer's website prior to the interview, and be prepared to ask thoughtful questions based on your research.

Step 5: Acceptance
Once you've completed all the steps above you've been accepted into a new and exciting or different job. According to statistics, 64.1% of people change jobs between 5 and 14 times in their lifetime. Consequently, learning the skills above will increase your chances of gaining meaningful and satisfactory work as well as help you to avoid many of the stresses that occur with changing jobs. By recognizing that change is good (even advantageous), changing jobs can be viewed as a positive experience and need not be as anxiety provoking as it may initially seem. You will continue the process of self-assessment, research, decision-making, and job searching in order to make effective and fulfilling career changes throughout your lifetime.

Some tips on starting a job search
In my previous write ups I have mentioned how to go through a successful job search including how to write resumes, CVs, cover letters and where to look for jobs and how to conduct a job search.
Shown below is a simple format for a networking letter
Contact Name Title
Company Address
City
Dear Mr. Contact,
I was referred to you by Mr G. Gunawardane from XYZ Company in Colombo. He recommended you as an excellent source of information on the communications industry.

My goal is to secure an entry-level position in communications. I would appreciate your advice on career opportunities in the communications industry, on finding the correct job through an effective job search, and on how best I could move forward.

Thanks so much, in advance, for any insight and advice you would be willing to share. I look forward to contacting you early next week to set up a telephone informational interview. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
YourFirstName YourLastName

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