Developing your career isn’t always easy, but we have good news for you: you are not alone. In fact, many leaders at VA have been where you are. In MyCareer@VA’s CareerTalk podcasts, the MyCareer@VA team interviewed VA leaders about their secrets to career success. While each leader followed a different path, they used similar approaches to develop their careers. Read on for advice from VA leaders to help you grow in your career.
It’s Okay to Pursue the ‘Road Less Traveled’
If there’s one thing we learned from VA leaders that should reassure you in your career, it’s that there is no one way or right way to reach your career goals. Fernando Rivera and Timothy Cooke are just two examples of leaders who took unique, unexpected paths to get where they are today.
“I wish I could tell you that I set a very clear career path to become a network director. I did not,” said Fernando Rivera, Director of the VA Capitol Health Care Network (VISN 5) for the Veterans Health Administration. “But I knew that I wanted to be in a leadership role in health care administration, so I took deliberate actions to prepare myself for that.”
Like Rivera, Timothy Cooke took advantage of his unique career path by learning from each position he held. The Medical Center Director of the Martinsburg VA Medical Center explained, “You get to learn so many different things along the way…The variety, the culture, whether it's the location or the service that you provide…You become a far stronger person, employee, or leader throughout that entire journey.”
Identify What Drives You
Prior to making big career changes, make sure to stop and take some time to assess yourself – it’s as simple as brainstorming your interests, priorities, and goals. One part of this assessment is identifying what you’re passionate about, according to Aaron Lee, Director of the Leadership & Professional Development Division for the Veterans Benefits Administration. Lee suggested asking yourself what wakes you up at night and what gets you up in the morning, “Those are the things that drive you. And so when you are able to identify the driving forces in your life, then that makes your decision to transition into [a] career that much more clear.”
Identifying what drives you might also mean taking a step back and looking for a running theme in your work history. “I'd had different jobs and goals throughout my career,” said Lee Becker, Chief of the Administrative Support Division for the Board of Veterans Appeals. “But every job I've had has involved the idea of service and specifically serving others and providing value.”
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Posted By: Cheer Leader
Friday, November 21st 2014 at 5:39PM
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