People often have distinct visions regarding the progression of their career path; they choose specific educational paths, work to reach the next job title in the series, and aim to get as far as possible for retirement. But how those goals are accomplished surprisingly fits most people into one of three career-oriented categories: Organizational, protean, and boundary-less.

If you aren’t sure which applies to you, here are some key identifiers to consider.

Often, an organizational career is one that follows the most traditional model. This includes starting a career with a particular company and trying to work your way up the ranks internally, following the idea of a career ladder many earlier generations enjoyed.

One key facet of these careers is the idea that the organization will help you move forward. This includes having your progression managed by something external to yourself, something that is found within the organization itself. Those interested in this method often value the stability a single company can provide, but may not see certain opportunities as easily.

A protean career has aspects of an organizational career, but the individual works to define how they progress through the ranks. Often, the person sets some boundaries regarding where else they are willing to look for opportunities, and may even prefer to stay with a single company from beginning to end.

Someone interested in assuming full ownership of their career and is open to making notable changes in regards to the organization or even industry to do so is likely part of the boundaryless category. Often, these are people who are comfortable with change and are willing to be highly mobile when considering new opportunities.

Understanding your career category can play a key role in your general decision-making, especially in the early stages. If your ideal scenario involves staying with a single company over the long-term, then it is critical to find employment opportunities in organizations that can offer what you need to succeed. Additionally, you may even need to base your career choice entirely on the concept to make it a reality.

Not every environment or field of work offers much in regards to upward mobility. So, if basing your career off of as few workplace changes as possible, you need to craft your career accordingly fairly early on.

Those who want to take full control over every step and aren’t afraid to change employers, cities, or fields to make it happen, then your career path can be more flexible. However, this may involve creating a career that has a less defined direction, an idea that not everyone is comfortable with.

By understanding how you envision your career path progressing, you can make choices that support that preference. If you are interested in new employment opportunities that fit your preferred career category, TempStaff has the expertise to help you find the right employment options. Contact us to discuss your career goals today.