To manage means to "control, handle or cope". Hence, career management is the ability to control your life, handle the demands of working and living, and coping with a dynamic economy that directly affects your work life, family life and career development.

The career management process entails three key factors - self-awareness, career exploration and job search strategies. It is a self-exploratory journey, either with or without the assistance of an experienced career coach.

Some soul-searching questions include asking yourself who you are and what your personality type is. You should also determine your life goals as well as your life mission statement.

The next step is to decide what interests you, what it is that you really like to do, and what you are good at.

Then you have to determine what it is that you value and what is important to you. Make up your mind about what your life priorities are.

Ask yourself what are your special assets. List your networks and anything that you may have invented or devised. What are your other skills and abilities? Find out who needs your type of talent and expertise.

Next week, we will take a look at questions you need to ask if you are to successfully manage your career.

Christine Sim, general manager for search and recruitment, Links Recruitment Singapore