Contents
Women Meeting the Challenge: A Handbook for Media Leadership
Making a Career Plan
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Jerusha Arothe-Vaughan said it best: "Careers, like everything else, have got to be managed and they've got to be planned. Rarely does a successful career happen spontaneously. It happens through goal setting, planning, evaluation, and focused skill development. That doesn't mean that careers don't often change direction, that plans are not revised and that you shouldn't take advantage of unexpected opportunities.
It does means that you should take control of where your career is headed. It requires that you be deliberate in your professional and personal choices and be willing to take on additional challenges and risks. After answering the following questions, think about what kind of training will help you get where you want to be. Talk to others who already hold the position you aspire to and learn how they reached that position. Talk to others seeking similar positions and learn what their career plans entail. Seek out a mentor to help you navigate the organisation and discover your niche.
Planning for the Future
Questions to ask yourself…
What job or type of job do I want next?What other possible options might I consider?
By what process will I be offered this job?
What actions will I need to take in this process?
What additional skills might I need to develop?
What additional experience will I need to show?
What barriers might exist to my getting this job?
How can I attempt to overcome them?
From whom can I seek support?
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If you do not have the full requirements for the job, seek specialized training. The importance of training women for leadership was a key issue at the UNDP Media panel held as part of the Economic Commission for Africa's conference in May 1997 in Ethiopia. Panelists included representatives from the AWMC, and the League for Women and Children Education. The UNDP works with many organizations throughout Africa which can provide training for leadership positions or direct you to institutions that can offer such training.
Seraphine Lainjo Tata of Ghana says, "To have and keep the position you want, you need to define our goal and objectives in the profession and your strategies to achieve them. You need to analyse the situation in the background. There are no failures in life. There are only experiences and outcomes that need to be redefined and your direction refocused. You must seek out your priorities and learn to manage resources and time effectively. And when should you begin? Right now! Time lost is lost forever."