1. Making Your Way: Shaping a Career Trajectory
Angela Jackson, MD
Associate Dean, Office of Student Affairs
Associate Professor of Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine

2. Career Trajectory What defines your career’s direction?
Serendipity (Opportunities)
Planned course and systematic progress
Both ?…
Job satisfaction vs Promotion?
Job variety
Reflection exercise

3. Making Your Way: Today’s Session
Inventory of your experiences and expectations
Self Assessment
Career Mapping

4. Key Steps in Career Development
Self assessment
Self promotion
Identifying Opportunities

5. Key Steps in Career Development
Self assessment
Self promotion
Identifying Opportunities
Help from your mentor.

6. Key Steps in Career Development
Self assessment
Self promotion
Identifying Opportunities

7. Self Assessment To thine own self be true…
Skills: What do I do well? What can I improve? What do I want to do?
Knowledge: What do I know? What do I want to know? What do I need to know?
Interests: What do I like?
Values: What is important to me?
Who has a mentor that they speak with about career development, career paths?
- Reflection exercise

8. Values: What is really matters to you?
Flexibility
Location
Lifestyle
Relationships
Professional
Personal
Autonomy
Money
Service
Innovation
Reputation
Stability

9. Skills: Knowledge: Interests: Values:
Turn to someone next to you and describe up to three things that you do well and one thing you want to learn to do

10. Putting it Together
Are you developing SKILLS and KNOWLEDGE in the areas that INTEREST you?
Do your VALUES seem consistent with your SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, and INTERESTS?
What is missing? What doesn’t fit?

11. Controlling Serendipity- Plot your Trajectory
Career Map
Milestones
Mentors

12. CAREER MAPPING Major Steps Milestones Resources Mentor’s role
Future date:
Major Steps
Milestones
Resources
Mentor’s role
Obstacles
Challenges
Detours (Plan B)
Today’s date:

13. Career Mapping Steps: Start: Define where you are
Destination: Define where you want to be
Explore alternate routes
Plan for potential potholes and detours
Milestones: Are you making progress?

14. Milestones: Marking your Progress
Short term - Intermediate - Long-term
SMART goals (
S - specific, significant, stretching
M - measurable, meaningful, motivational
A - attainable, achievable
R - realistic, relevant, rewarding
T - timely

15. CAREER MAPPING Major Steps Milestones Resources Mentor’s role
Future date:
Major Steps
Milestones
Resources
Mentor’s role
Obstacles
Challenges
Detours (Plan B)
Today’s date:

16. Career Mapping Take the wheel: self-knowledge
Tool: mold opportunities that come your way
Transform assigned tasks into opportunities
Recognize progress or lack of progress
Correct course
Fill in the gaps

17. Road Rules Find a niche “Make it count twice” “Low impact, high yield”
Network
Be visible; be respected; be indispensable
Get recognized for what you do – self-promotion

18. Keeping Track of Your Progress
Portfolio for Academic Advancement
SMART Goals
Identify methods
Identify potential barriers
Identify milestones
Document activities

19. What do you want your mentor(s) for?
Defining career goals
Appropriate job selection
Time management: set goals/priorities
Understanding requirements for promotion
Choosing a research focus/scholarly interest
Maintaining productivity: milestones/timelines

20. What else?
Mentors provide constructive critical feedback on performance
Facilitate introductions to key people
Write letters of recommendation
Submit names for awards and committees
Explore external funding options
Help in grant and manuscript preparation
Can advise on interpersonal issues/balancing home and career
Acculturation
Zerzan JT, Hess R, Schur E, Phillips RS, Rigotti N. Making the most of mentors: a guide for mentees.
Acad Med Jan;84(1):140-4