Some people don’t like to talk about careers. Perhaps because “careers” brings the idea of “climbing” to the top of the hierarchy, at a time when flatter organizations are sought after and success is not solely about leadership. But a career is defined as a path, a professional journey. A path is not always linear, upward; it has several possibilities for reaching different destinations. That is why I want to talk about careers, about the importance of thinking about the path I want to take and where I want to go.
The destination can by anything, from securing a job to make a living to becoming the next president of any company. Because today, fortunately, we recognize that success is not a one-size-fits-all formula, that it is not limited to the workplace and that it takes many different forms. Success is what makes us feel whole. It can be providing for my family, so they have comfort and opportunities. Leaving clients satisfied. Having a united team that delivers results. Contributing to a fairer community. Ensuring the well-being and health of others. The possibilities are endless. And they should be. Without preconceived ideas of what success should be.
As a mother, educator, and professional, what can I do? How can I contribute to my own success, to the success of my children, my students, my colleagues, my team, and my community? Managing a career, defining a path to reach success, is not just for top-level professionals or students about to graduate from university. Democratizing career management through “career education” is one of the things that can help boost the social mobility offered by education.
It is widely recognized that education can open doors to more opportunities and improve quality of life. In my own circle, most people studied more than their parents did (and their parents studied more than their grandparents) and were able to build lives with fewer difficulties.
However, education alone is not enough if I stay within the same circle (as happens in many public schools), if I do not challenge critical thinking (as happens when teaching remains the same as in the last century), if I am not shown that I have the power to choose. Among other things, education must include “career education”, a concept that is familiar in other countries but whose translation still sounds strange here – which is already quite telling.
“Career education” is a solution that allows for greater reach an expands horizons, especially for those who are not exposed to such ideas at home. It enables active and autonomous career management throughout life, supported by information, training, and both individual and group processes. It fosters self-awareness, knowledge of the job market, and the identification and development of the skills needed to remain relevant, allowing for informed choices, it creates space to break free from cycles that perpetuate less qualified work (which is more likely to be replaced by technology) and the sense of hopelessness felt by those who have never known any other reality.
It is up to the State to include career education in national curricula, so that it does not remain limited to private schools or the work of a few nonprofit organizations. More companies can also focus on career development, now that people are the real competitive advantage, and that external talent is not enough to meet the immediate needs of a rapidly changing world. But each of us can start now. What can I do?
Live with curiosity. Open myself to knowledge, to other people’s stories, to opportunities that, at first glance, are not for me. Because only then can I broaden my horizons, dispel myths, and expand my circle. Encourage that curiosity.
Include others in my process. Talk to other people, the more different they are from me, the better. Those are the ones who will challenge my preconceptions. Who will me come up with new ideas for old problem and allow me to move forward on my path. Who will open new possibilities in areas I may never have considered before,
I frequently ask those around me what they value most in me and what I could improve. And encourage them to answer honestly, even if they are not trained to give feedback. Because only by understanding the impact I have on others and on what I do can I truly grow.
Using AI as a career advisor. Always with a critical mindset, of course – asking it to take on that role, challenging it to ask me questions that help me reflect on my priorities, define goals, and find ways to achieve them.
Take advantage of growing availability of free, online, or subsidized training to gain knowledge and skills that will allow me to keep up with an increasingly competitive job market. And in doing so, show that I have the willingness and openness to adapt as it changes. Because it is not only about being it is also about appearing to be.
Of course, nothing replaces a specialist to support me. However, since such professionals are not (yet) available to everyone, these attitudes and behaviors help me get into the elevator. Because pressing the button is not enough – it helps me to know where I want to go.
Maria João Santos, Head of Careers & Talent at CATÓLICA-LISBON