Life is full of choices. That being said, which ones will you make when it comes to your career?
For better or worse, it is not uncommon for employees to be on the go in this day and age.
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average worker today remains at each of his or her jobs for 4.4 years, while the forecasted tenure of the workforceÂs youngest employees is about half that.
Ninety-one percent of Millennials (born between 1977-1997) figure on staying in a job for less than three years, according to the Future Workplace ÂMultiple Generations @ Work survey of nearly 1,200 employees and 150 managers. If you do the math, that figures out to some 15  20 jobs over the course of their working lives.
As 2013 recently finished its first quarter, you still have a sizable year of opportunities awaiting you, some you never could have predicted.
Whether you work in a job you love or one you canÂt wait to leave, there are opportunities in both. The question is, will you make the most of them.
For starters, those in a job they canÂt wait to get out of need to ask themselves a few pertinent questions.
Among them:
* Why do I not like it here?
* Am I doing all I can to make the best of the situation?
* Is my personality contributing to why this job is not working out?
* If I go get another job, will I feel the same way about my career?
For those in a job that they love, some interesting questions to consider include:
* Why do I like it here?
* What can I do to make this an even better situation?
* Is there an opportunity to move up the ladder and get more responsibility and a raise?
* If I were to leave here, would I end up regretting it?
In a day and age where the economy continues its up and down path, and a day and age where many people remain on the outside looking in when it comes to work, it is even more important that you consider yourself fortunate to have a job. Along with that feeling, never take it for granted, because there is more than likely someone out there who could fill your seat tomorrow.
If 2013 is your year to make things better at work, consider these tips:
* Look to go that extra mile when it comes to helping your co-workers, improving office morale, and giving customers that extra attention;
* Look at the bigger picture. Even if you are currently not happy in your position, leaving it now may hurt you in the future. Sometimes it is better to gut it out in order to win over time;
* Look at taking as many skills away from your present job as possible. Unlike the days when workers stayed at their jobs for several decades, many of todayÂs workers move around every few years. Learn as much as you can now, allowing you to apply it later.
Whether 2013 is the year you shine at your current job or take your skills elsewhere, always be thinking about how lucky you are to have a job in the first place.
Photo credit: davykestens.be
About the Author: With 23 years writing experience, Dave Thomas covers a variety of business topics for different sites, including Reputation.com.
