Bukky Ekine-Ogunlana - The Career Success Formula: Proven Career Development Advice and Finding Rewarding Employment for Young Adults and College Graduates

This lovely book is dedicated to all the beautiful students all over the world who, over the years, have passed through the T.C.E.C young adult's program. Thanks for the opportunity to serve you and invest in your colorful and bright future.

Introduction

Are you looking for a potential career fresh out of university? Are you a professional looking to switch to a different career stream? Or perhaps you are a young adult on the hunt for the perfect job. If you fall into any of these categories or can relate to any of these scenarios in some capacity, then this book is right for you.

Finding a career that suits your interests, passions, needs, and lifestyle can be a very daunting task, specifically if you are fresh out of school. With this book, you will understand what makes a career, why it can sometimes be frustrating when you do not get the job you want, and what you can do to land a promising career as a fresh graduate young adult.

We generally define a career as a person's job during their working life. This definition is broad and includes changes such as the acquisition of skills and qualifications.

Usually, however, we associate a lot more with a career than that, namely advancement, not only in the hierarchy of a company but also socially. That means a higher position, more salary, a better company car, a more excellent office, etc. When we talk about someone who has made a career, we often imagine an absolute high-flyer with the best degrees, a quick promotion, and a rsum with whom international head-hunters would strike immediately.

The career is an individual's metaphorical "journey" through learning, work and other aspects of life. There are several ways to define a career, and the term is used in various ways. It is an omnipresent topic, not only in our career bible but in school, during studies, or in everyday life: careers are planned, discussed, and highlighted everywhere. Everyone wants to have a career, be successful, and achieve something. Few, however, think about what that means: making a career. The way is not prescribed; it does not always have to go up steeply. Much more importantly: a career is what you make of it and what you expect from it. We show what makes a career and what possibilities there are to shape your career.

Finding a career that suits you and fulfills all of your needs may take some trial and error, which instills fear in many people because of the uncertainty that lies ahead. While it can be a stress-inducing situation, it is essential to overcome the negative outlook you may have on this journey and develop an attitude that seeks to fulfill yourself and your future truly.

This is better clearly said than done, but an excellent way to look at this is by approaching your career with creativity in mind. It is essential to think about your work's impact and its effect on those around you. This approach of coloring outside the lines, rather than falling into the structure and rules that limit you in the workplace, often yields better results. People are less afraid to take risks and truly challenge themselves in the workplace. This can mean taking on more tasks or responsibilities, branching out into other areas of interest, or even merely reaching out to those around them and being more outspoken in social situations. This differs from one person to another person and is based on their job and what it entails. But that is not to say that creativity will carry you to new heights if you keep it in mind with every task you do.

The underlying idea behind being creative with your career lies in this Jewish phenomenon: "With your certificate, you must learn another trade." Humans are multifaceted and capable of accomplishing so much more than we might think and anticipate. The circumstances that affect our lives can hit us when we are least expecting it, thus changing the course of our lives dramatically, career included. Because you can be displaced at any time, the important thing is to continually evolve and challenge yourself to acquire more skills so that you can carve a career path that truly fits you and what fascinates you, no matter what variables shape your life. The mantra is to "always be a student" because there will always be new skills to be mastered and learn. This mindset prepares you for the unknown and often spurs on burgeoning entrepreneurial spirits that most people do not realize they have.

I once discussed this with a friend of mine who was a lawyer. He had experienced a dramatic shift in life that inspired some of the basis for this book. He said the words: "These hands have provided for my necessities," which were tremendously profound and inspiring. He had attended an Ivy League law school and worked at a top law firm in Chicago. Despite having an incredibly successful career by most standards, he no longer went to court as a lawyer because he found that it was no longer a fulfilling job. What was once a role that fueled his passions for helping people become a high-strung environment that valued monetary gain above all else. Disillusioned, he ended up quitting and finding success in making tents, a newly acquired hobby that found him tapping into an entrepreneurial spirit he never knew he had.