So you’ve finally been offered that part-time job you’ve been wanting.  Maybe it’s at the bakery down the road, maybe at the restaurant across town, maybe even at the beach nearby.  Before you accept, take a minute or two to really think about the job in terms of your overall plan for life.  While most students don’t know what they want to do the next week, let alone for their life, setting short- and long-term goals for yourself is a terrific way to advance your career.

                If you’re interested in becoming a physician, then perhaps the job waiting on tables isn’t such a great job after all.  Ask yourself: are any of the skills necessary in order to become a good server also useful in becoming a good doctor?  Or better yet: which job would best prepare you for a career in medicine?  Perhaps a lifeguard, who knows and applies life-saving techniques on a regular basis gets more practical experience for a medical career than a waiter or waitress does.  The key in evaluating your current job or choosing a new one is to list the skills required to succeed in it and compare them with the skills required in the fields you’re interested in pursuing in life.

                If you’re in a job that you realize is not furthering your career goals, there are ways to gracefully get out. See the article on how to quit gracefully.  One word of caution, however, is to be certain the move will be a productive one.  Job-hopping is poison to a good résumé—you will be questioned about your indecisiveness if your work history reveals no consistent pattern of thought or planning.  If you’ve only held one or two different jobs in your life, or if you’ve never worked before, having a career plan should be secondary to getting your foot in the door.  And if the choice comes down to a job that won’t really help your career and no job at all, taking the job is a good idea, if only because it fills space in your résumé and gives you experience in the working world.

                Finally, don’t be afraid to change your career goals—most college students change their majors several times before they graduate.  If your outlook on life changes or you realize you really don’t want to go to medical school, you’re not alone.  If you think a change in jobs will further your career goals, evaluate the situation thoroughly and then make an informed decision.  Hesitation may result in a job opening being filled by someone other than you, but make sure you’re convinced the move is a good one.  Then go out there and make yourself better—your career deserves it.