Career Planning and Development – In Reverse

Dr. Carl M. Powe, Jr.
Outskirts Press (2009)
ISBN 9781432745653
Reviewed by Marty Shaw for Reader Views (12/10)

 

Most people are thrown into their job by circumstance. Even those who go to college with a particular career goal in mind are usually working with only half a plan. We think of today, tomorrow, and the immediate future… but what about the big picture? What happens when you hit retirement age? The ‘In Reverse’ part of the title refers to planning your career based on where you plan to be in the future instead of where you are now. Want to enter your golden years with a hefty nest egg and own your home without worrying about a mortgage? Working fast food your entire life probably won’t cover that, regardless of how well you manage your finances.

Dr. Powe’s book provides an outline of what needs to be considered when thinking about employment that keeps your future in mind. One of the things talked about is brought up in Chapter Two, and it’s something that very few people consider so I thought it was a good idea to bring it up early. The topic is analyzing your self. You can get an education and receive years of training to learn skills, but your personality is with you for your whole life and it basically remains the same. No amount of training will change who you are. A career in sales can provide a lucrative future but if you don’t consider yourself a people person, then cold-calling and mingling might not be your thing. Likewise, if everyone sees you as the life of the party, then a job as a writer or computer programmer might seem like a lifetime of torture.

Another chapter discusses learning about the type of jobs you are interested in before learning the job itself. Technology is making some previously solid areas of employment simply disappear. Some helpful resources are provided that will help readers make informed decisions. I believe this chapter is a vital part of any type of career planning because old jobs are fading and new jobs are appearing on an almost daily basis. There’s also a fairly hefty chapter on the subject of entrepreneurism. Some useful information is provided for those who plan to be their own boss but it’s a significant portion of the book that really won’t hold much relevance for anyone else.

The provided resources offer useful information that can be of assistance throughout all the stages of career development, from deciding on a career to how to get the job, and there are a number of graphs included that help make it easier to visualize certain concepts. I found the writing style to be slightly on the dry side, with no humor or levity to brighten things up, but since the book contains less than 200 pages, it’s still a fairly easy read.

If you’re considering your first job or thinking about switching to a different career, Dr. Powe’s book, Career Planning and Development – In Reverse, provides a solid foundation that makes sure you look at the big picture, and don’t just focus on the immediate future.

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