WHY IS CAREER DEVELOPMENT NECESSARY?

LEKAN OTUFODUNRIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MEDIA CAREER SERVICES

Success and happiness in any career are rarely achieved by chance. Recognise that by taking proactive approach to developing your career, you are more likely to realize your ambitions and do justice to your skills

•       A career can be likened to a journey: if that journey is to be purposeful expedition rather than an aimless one, it needs to be managed well.

•       If you don’t know where you are going, everywhere you get to will look like your destination.

•       Insanity is doing the same thing the same way and expecting a change.

•       Every professional should be interested in career development to have a fulfilling experience in his or her job. Without a conscious career development plan, the tendency to drift off course is very high.

Participants at the Basic Media Career Course

WHAT IS A CAREER?

•       An individual’s journey through learning, work and other aspects of life –Wikipedia

•       An occupation or profession that usually involves special training or formal education, and this is considered to be part of a person’s lifework. Sequence of related jobs usually pursued with a single industry or sector e.g  A career in journalism- Espresso

Young Journalists At The Training

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•       A career is much more than just full-time employment. The following activities should all be considered an important part of your career: Permanent or casual contracts (however short), Freelance, consultancy or self-employment, Post-retirement activities, formal education and training, informal studies or self taught material, development activities (work based or private learning), voluntary work or any charitable activity and hobbies or interests.

•       A job is something you do simply to earn money, whereas a career is a series of connected employment opportunities.

What is media career development?

•       Deliberate, planned, conscious and sustained efforts to develop a career in the media.

•       Acquisition of necessary media training, skills, education, knowledge, experience, network, link to reach the pinnacle of your career in the media.

Why is media career development necessary?

•       There is an old debate over the professional status of journalists. Some claim journalism is a trade while others insist it is a profession.

•       Journalism particularly does not have a strong professional organization that has career development programmes like other professions.

•       Professional development programmes are regularly held by Advertising and Public Relations associations.

Executive Director JAAIDS, Olaide Akanni

How to develop your media career

•       Have a mission statement. What is your reason for wanting to be a journalist and remain one.

•       Journalism is a calling, not simply a job. Personal mission will help us drive what we do as journalists.

•        Have a career goal or plan that includes both your short and long term targets. Write down what you want to accomplish and have timelines to know how well you are doing at every stage of your career.

•       Be ambitious and don’t be limited by ‘old wives fables’. You don’t have to spend as many years as those before you before attaining some heights in the profession.

•       Acquire necessary education (including professional certification) and take advantage of training opportunities. You don’t have to wait for your organization to send you for training. Incorporate self-development into your career plan.