Making Your Way:Shaping a Career Trajectory

Angela Jackson, MD

Associate Dean, Office of Student Affairs

Associate Professor of Medicine

Boston University School of Medicine

Career Trajectory

• What defines your career’s direction?

– Serendipity (Opportunities)

– Planned course and systematic progress

– Both ?…

– Job satisfaction vs Promotion?

– Job variety

Making Your Way: Today’s Session

1. Inventory of your experiences and expectations

2. Self Assessment

3. Career Mapping

Key Steps in Career Development

•Self assessment

•Self promotion

•Identifying Opportunities

Key Steps in Career Development

•Self assessment

•Self promotion

•Identifying Opportunities

Help from your mentor.

Key Steps in Career Development

•Self assessment

•Self promotionSelf promotion

•Identifying Opportunities

Self AssessmentTo thine own self be true…

– Skills: What do I do well? What can I improve? What do I want to do?

– Knowledge: What do I know? What do I want to know? What do I need to know?

– Interests: What do I like?

– Values: What is important to me?

Values: What is really matters to you?

Flexibility

Location

Lifestyle

Relationships

- Professional

- Personal

Autonomy

Money

Service

Innovation

Reputation

Stability

• Skills:

• Knowledge:

• Interests:

• Values:

Putting it Together– Are you developing SKILLS and

KNOWLEDGE in the areas that INTEREST you?

– Do your VALUES seem consistent with your SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, and INTERESTS?

– What is missing? What doesn’t fit?

Controlling Serendipity- Plot your Trajectory

1. Career Map

2. Milestones

3. Mentors

CAREER MAPPING

Future date:

•Obstacles•Challenges•Detours (Plan B)

Today’s date:

•Major Steps•Milestones•Resources•Mentor’s role

Career Mapping

– Steps:• Start: Define where you are• Destination: Define where you want to be• Explore alternate routes• Plan for potential potholes and detours• Milestones: Are you making progress?

Milestones: Marking your Progress

• Short term - Intermediate - Long-term

• SMART goals (http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/pdf/smart-goals.pdf)

– S - specific, significant, stretching– M - measurable, meaningful, motivational– A - attainable, achievable– R - realistic, relevant, rewarding– T - timely

CAREER MAPPING

Future date:

•Obstacles•Challenges•Detours (Plan B)

Today’s date:

•Major Steps•Milestones•Resources•Mentor’s role

Career Mapping

• Take the wheel: self-knowledge

• Tool: mold opportunities that come your way – Transform assigned tasks into

opportunities– Recognize progress or lack of progress– Correct course– Fill in the gaps

Road Rules

• Find a niche• “Make it count twice”• “Low impact, high yield”• Network• Be visible; be respected; be indispensable• Get recognized for what you do – self-promotion

Keeping Track of Your Progress

• Portfolio for Academic Advancement– SMART Goals

– Identify methods

– Identify potential barriers

– Identify milestones

– Document activities

What do you want your mentor(s) for?

• Defining career goals• Appropriate job selection• Time management: set goals/priorities• Understanding requirements for

promotion• Choosing a research focus/scholarly

interest• Maintaining productivity:

milestones/timelines

What else?• Mentors provide constructive critical

feedback on performance• Facilitate introductions to key people• Write letters of recommendation• Submit names for awards and

committees• Explore external funding options• Help in grant and manuscript preparation• Can advise on interpersonal

issues/balancing home and career• Acculturation

Zerzan JT, Hess R, Schur E, Phillips RS, Rigotti N. Making the most of mentors: a guide for mentees. Acad Med. 2009 Jan;84(1):140-4