Читать книгу Professional Practice for Interior Designers - Christine M. Piotrowski - Страница 94

Leaving a current job voluntarily is certainly a solution when dissatisfaction occurs. Many designers have suffered through involuntary separation from a job due to the economy or for cause. Certainly, many wish to advance their careers doing what they are doing and/or stay with a particular company.

When you accept a position with a company, do so with the expectation you are going to be there for a while. When you accepted the position, you should have had some idea of what the expectations would be. You should also have been made aware of responsibilities and even how long it might be before you would be given added responsibilities. These kinds of issues are discussed in Chapter 29.

As an entry‐level employee, don't look down your nose at tasks that you feel are beneath you. As far as the company is concerned, you have the knowledge to be hired, but you may not yet understand how they do things. Keep your focus on learning everything you can about doing design in the professional opportunity you have chosen. Keeping your expectations in check will serve you well.

Professionals need to continually examine how they are doing their jobs. Becoming more productive (yes, more productive) and staying interested in enhancing the company's reputation are two important keys to advancing your career. For the professional—whether entry‐level or experienced—simple things like coming in on time, volunteering to complete tasks others don't want to do, not complaining, and giving a positive impression of your company through your behavior are all important.

Long‐term professionals must also look to enhance their careers through newer challenges that don't always involve bringing in new clients. Volunteering to work on committees of professional associations can help you meet influential people at the national level. Agreeing to critique student work or lecture to students adds to your apparent expertise. Being visible in the community by speaking to community groups about design topics of interest to the general public is also a great thing.

Career advancement takes many forms and involves the topics in this book. You have to have an idea of what it is you want to accomplish in the interior design profession so that you can plan how to achieve your goals. Career advancement does not happen by treading water and just taking what comes as it comes. Although good things have happened to many professionals that way, the truly successful have had a vision and a plan.

These brief thoughts and the items in Table 4‐3 are only a small smattering of things that you can do to advance your career.