You are reading the FRACAT Blog Archive (also known as "FRACAT 1.0") for all posts prior to October 29th, 2007.
Are You Playing “The Career Game”? You’d Better Be.
Today, I’m going to start telling you about something that your parents or your first boss should have told you, but probably didn’t.
It’s something that will help you have (a little) less stress about your job and start to understand what is going on around you.
That being said, you’re still not going to like it.
Did you know that just about every company that you work for or interview with is playing “The Career Game”?
It’s a game that everyone involved play for fun and profit. Unless you don’t play the game. Then it is most definitely not fun and very unprofitable.
And, while you can have a good time with “The Career Game”, the downside is that everyone is betting with your career.
Not only are you playing right now (whether you know it or not), but you’d better play the game right or you’ll lose.
“I’M NOT PLAYING A GAME WITH MY CAREER”
Unless you’re running your own business, you’re playing “The Career Game”. And even then you’re just playing a different game.
To put it bluntly, if you think you’re not playing, then you’re losing. You’re like a bug just determined to “ride it out” on the windshield of a car. Entering the freeway. You may hang on for awhile (and longer than others), but the end is still the same.
If you think that you’re going to advance your career by being really good at what you do, you’re wrong. You can move up a couple notches that way, but that’s it. You’ll remain at the same level for the rest of your career.
If you think you can get by without being political, you’re wrong. In order to rise above a certain (usually low-level management) level, you have to play a political game. You don’t have to play dirty, but you have to play.
I know this sounds negative, but it’s not. It’s just reality.
START PAYING ATTENTION TO “THE CAREER GAME”
Tomorrow, I’ll show you what some of the different “Career Game”s look like. But for now, start paying attention to what is going on around you.
Start to watch your bosses and coworkers and see what they do. Watch the successful people in your office and try to identify what they do differently than everyone else.
Heck, go to some of the “rising stars” and ask them what they’re doing differently. Many of them will be glad to tell you.
The same goes for interviewing. While you can’t watch other people interview, you can ask your interviewer what they liked or didn’t like about your interview / interviewing style.
For today, let this be your wakeup call to pay attention to the ebb and flow of a different current around your office. The current of “The Career Game” in progress.
Enjoy the Search!
Dan
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Daniel R. Sweet
Chief Cook-And-Bottle-Washer / Technical Recruiter
FRACAT.com - Free Resume and Career Toolbox
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielrsweet
Call me on Jaxtr: http://www.jaxtr.com/fracat
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