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职业不是一朝一夕的事。虽然这个概念很简单，但每当我指导别人做出职业决定时，我总会首先强调这一最为基本的道理。我之所以这么做是因为我遇到过太过候选人，他们选择某家公司或某个职位时目光都很短浅，不去考虑未来这个选择能带给他们什么样的价值。 

你的职业决定是否让你离终极目标更进一步？

多年来，我见过不少每一两年就换一次工作的中国候选人，几年之后，他们会发现自己的背景已经不会让高层雇主们感兴趣了。还有人选择了薪水最高的职位或公司，但后来却意识到这份工作不能帮他们增长才干、积累经验，也就无法让他们在未来抓住更好的机会。还有一些人并不喜欢现在的工作，感到困顿不堪，十分沮丧，但却还要在这里工作很多年。

为了避免发生上述状况，要记住，你现在做的每个决定都会深深影响你实现未来目标的能力。加入哪个行业，进入哪家公司，选择什么职位，这些问题在很大程度上决定了你是否会喜欢你的工作，你能取得多大的成功，以及你的事业和人生会有多少维度。因此，在权衡重大职业决定时，不妨问问自己：“这个机会能否让我离职业终极目标更进一步？”

思考如今的决定或处境会怎样影响你的未来

身处这个市场，我们还是很幸运的，各行各业、各家公司都在持续发展，中国正快速走向未来。在美国等更为成熟的市场，要发展4至5年才能迎来职业中期，在中国只需要2至3年。在其他地方职业长期可能指从现在开始8至10年，在中国大约仅需4至5年。这么说并非空穴来风，在中国位居资深管理层的人中，很多人都相对年轻，要比别的市场同等职位的职业人士年轻4至5岁，这就是证据。

成功的公司在做出重大业务决定时，要考虑短期、中期和长期目标。同样，你在做出重大职业决定时也应该这么做。关注当下需要、关切和现实，自然无可厚非，但做出决定时，未来也是一个现实因素，需要你好好考虑。

Look Beyond Just Short-Term Benefits When Making Key Career Decisions

Your career lasts a long time.  Although it’s a simple concept, whenever I’m coaching others on making good career decisions, this is the very first, most basic thing I tell them.  I place a big emphasis on this concept because I come across too many candidates who join companies or take positions with just the short-term in mind, without considering the future value that a situation today will offer them.

Do Your Career Decisions Bring You Closer To What You Ultimately Want?

Over the years, I’ve seen many candidates in China end up changing jobs every 1-2 years only to find out after a few years that they’re backgrounds are no longer attractive to top employers.  Others choose positions or companies because they offer the most money, but later realize they aren’t building the skills or experience that will help them capture better opportunities later on.  Or some end up feeling trapped or frustrated in a job function or job situation they don’t enjoy or care about much, but still face many more years of doing.

To avoid such situations for yourself, remember that every choice you make today greatly impacts your ability to achieve your future objectives.  Your decisions to enter an industry, join a company, or take a position will largely determine whether you’ll enjoy your work, how successful you’ll be at your job, and how many aspects of your career and life will turn out.  So when considering a big career decision, ask yourself, “Does this opportunity or situation bring me any closer to my overall career objectives?”

Consider How Decisions Or Situations Today Will Affect You Tomorrow

The fortunate thing for all of us in this market is that with the continuous growth and development of so many industries and companies, the future comes very fast in China.  So whereas the mid-term usually means 4-5 years from now in more mature markets like the US, it’s more like 2-3 years here.   while the long-term may mean 8-10 years from now elsewhere, it’s closer to 4-5 years here.  As proof, just notice the relatively younger ages of those in many senior management roles in China, which are often 4-5 years younger than in other markets.

Successful companies approach key business decisions by considering their short-, mid-, and long-term objectives.  So should you when making key career decisions.  While it’s natural to pay more attention to your immediate needs, concerns, and realities, the future will also become a reality that you need to consider as well in the choices you make today.

（责任编辑：职场达人）