It is a well-known fact that most students fail to make it to the finish line because of a lack in meticulous and comprehensive career planning. Career planning is one of the most fundamental aspects of student achievement. Many students put their best foot forward in reaching for their goals. However, more times than seldom, they miss the target due to lack of effort at proper career planning. This is where Sharma’s advice comes in handy. Paritosh Sharma’s advice is helpful when students cannot put their finger on the career plans that will serve them the best. We will look at Schein’s Career Anchors Framework, which consists of 8 steps. These frameworks attune one’s career preferences to one’s goals.

Interpreting Schein’s Career Anchors Framework

In simple terms, Schein’s Career Anchors Framework aims to assist people in determining their values towards work and their work preferences. The framework consists of eight fundamental anchors critical to every career path. These anchors include but are not limited to:

– Technical & Functional
– General Management
– Autonomy & Independence
– Security & Stability
– Entrepreneurial Creativity
– Service & Dedication to a Cause
– Pure Challenge
– Lifestyle

There’s merit in examining each one of these anchors more closely.

Technical & Functional

As an example, a student with strong functional and technical anchors may have a particular preference in engineering, coding, and manufacturing. If you fall within this category, chances are you will be spending sleepless nights writing code and programming software. Such an anchor is relevant where there is an above average depth of required knowledge and specific competence. This is true for the IT or the manufacturing sector.

Final Thought: Pursue paths such as Software Engineering or Development if you find fulfillment in the skills you possess.

General Management

This category of general management pertains to those who enjoy working within a company’s various functional domains. Unlike specialists, generalists handle a wider variety of tasks under Paritosh Sharma’s management. He, for example, takes care of more than just video production; he is involved in all stages of building a course including marketing.

Final Thought: Seek a career in General management if you find joy in tracking multiple facets of a business. Try finding positions which allow you to manage and supervise multiple tasks at once.

Autonomy & Independence

Some individuals prioritize having freedom and being able to act independently. If this is true for you, the anchor of your career could be built around autonomy. You may choose to work for large companies as an intrapreneur, or attempt to start your own company as an entrepreneur.

Final Thought: If freedom is important for you, focus on positions that allow considerable authority such as in senior management or as a business owner/operator.

Security & Stability

For those who emphasize security, this career anchor is indispensable. People with this anchor demonstrate commitment, a sense of obligation, willingness to work for a stable pay, and tend to remain with the company for career advancement. Unlike self-employment, they prefer steady progression and development of their careers in business organizations.

Key takeaway: If security is your anchor, seek out long-term dependable employment with a respectable institution.

Entrepreneurial Creativity

The capability to think outside the box is often accompanied by a strong entrepreneurial anchor. You are not expected to start a tech company like Musk, but ‘creating something’ can be very fulfilling. For instance, a potter may market as an artist brands of novelty clay products, or a hobbyist may write superb applications for popular handheld computers as an entrepreneur token.

Key takeaway: If a creative approach motivates you, seek out positions that demand originality—be an innovator as an entrepreneur or within an industry that thrives on creativity.

Service & Dedication to a Cause

Human service and contribution to a cause is an area which motivates others differently. For instance, Dr. Vivek Bindra, a famous businessman was a monk who later wanted to help everyone grow with Bada Business. It motivates people to work for NGOs or causes aligned with their beliefs and values.

Important Note: If your anchor is service towards your community, take on roles that modern businesses have such as volunteered positions in NGOs or social enterprises.

Pure Challenge

For many very competitive people, the idea of challenge does not intimidate. Individuals with a challenge anchor tend to flourish in face-paced and demanding environments. They tend to overextend themselves to obtain the targets set before them. For these types of people, they can be found working predominantly in fast paced industries like technology or consulting.

Important Note: If challenge is what motivates you, look for positions at technology companies or high growth start-ups.

Lifestyle

A balanced life that encompasses all areas is central to some people’s lives. These people tend to hold 9-5 positions that facilitate a work-life balance. These anchors can be found in large firms or Non-profits those with structured working hours tend to favor these.

Important Note: If a balanced lifestyle is critical for you, seek out companies that have designated working hours like traditional firms and avoid startups as those tend to have an unreasonable expectation of work hours.

Final Thoughts: Optimize Your Career Journey to Suit Your Needs and Target Proper Goals.

Enhancing and repairing careers is made so much easier with the knowledge and awareness of the career anchor. Knowing which of the eight anchors represent your values, strengths and preferences allow for improved decisions along the career journey. This ensures that rather than applying for any and every position available, you are working towards options that represent your fundamental preferences. Whether you prefer more specialized positions, entrepreneurial ventures, or general management, understanding your anchor is crucial in achieving career success.