Career success doesn’t occur by happenstance or guesswork. Certainly there are elements of chance that are involved, but for the most part success comes to those who prepare for it and take advantage of outstanding opportunities that present themselves.

Whether you work in a clinical or non-clinical medical setting, the level of success you enjoy is a reflection of what you build for yourself using the career tools at your disposal. Another way to express the point: If you want to be successful, build on a solid foundation that supports professional development and career advancement. Let’s consider four main “pillars” that support this construct.

Educational attainment

There is no substitute for a solid education and specialized training for anyone working in the healthcare industry. With advancements in medical procedures, computer-based applications and legislative mandates to make health delivery more widespread and consumer-focused, it’s essential for careerists to stay on the cutting edge of industry knowledge. This being the case, ask yourself:

--“To what extent have I taken advantage of opportunities for educational self-enrichment, such as through in-service training?”

--“What are appropriate options for online distance learning for someone with my background?”

--“Should I work toward earning an advanced degree or attaining other professional certification?”

If you are not acquiring more job-related knowledge and skill sets to “stay ahead of the curve,” you have your work cut out for you. And no one can do it for you.

Workplace excellence

Successful professionals are intrinsically motivated by the desire to excel. They recognize that their work speaks for them. Accordingly, their goal is to constantly improve their job performance in ways that advance the mission of the organization. Similarly, they regard past achievements as stepping-stones to greater success. Here are some appropriate questions to address in this regard:

--“How much have I improved my workplace performance since I received my last annual review?”

--“What initiatives have I taken to make a more outstanding contribution to my company?”

--“At this point in my career, do I have the same drive that I did when entering the profession? If not, how can I rekindle the passion for my job that I once had?”

Being content with work-related accomplishments is counter-productive to achieving career success. Working with passion—and constantly raising the bar of acceptable performance—is a hallmark of professionals who excel in their occupational calling. Does that describe your work ethic? If not, what can you do to intensify your commitment to give your best at all time?

Creative networking

Professional networking is an indispensable part of building a successful career. After all, success in any sector of the healthcare field depends not only on what you know, but who knows you when it comes time to recommend someone for a promotion or a new job opportunity. Here are a few questions worth pondering:

--“How active am I in professional organizations? How can I increase my participation without imposing undue time constraints on my family or work schedule?”

--“How many new influential contacts have I developed within or outside my place of employment during the last year or so?”

--“To what extent have I used the Internet to stay connected with like-minded professionals in other organizations and in other parts of the country and abroad?”

Like most professionals, healthcare workers lead busy lives. Apart from workplace responsibilities, family and personal concerns often consume a great deal of time and energy.

These facts notwithstanding, it pays to take time to network with influential colleagues at work and elsewhere. You never know when you may need to put in gear a “low-speed” job search. Should that need arise, having a network of connected individuals to immediately contact becomes extremely beneficial.

Career leveraging

Success comes to those who prepare for it and make the odds work in their favor. They know how to appropriately shift gears if they find themselves headed down a path that won’t lead to the personal satisfaction and professional fulfillment that they expect and deserve.

That being the case, take a hard look at your career advancement over the last 3-5 years and ask yourself a few soul-searching questions:

--“Am I on a definite career track in my current position, or just earning a regular paycheck?”

--“Have I reached a career plateau? If so, what can I do to elevate my professional standing where I now work, or elsewhere?”

--“Do I have a game plan