Too many people make the mistake of living for their job, rather than for themselves. It’s a good thing to love your job and to be passionate about it.  Successful graduate careers often start this way.  Disappointments arise however when people let their jobs dictate who they are and where they are headed.

A much more satisfying approach is to think of yourself as your own career strategy manager. This way each job you take on will always conform to a bigger picture that you have in mind for your career, rather than allowing your job to lead you on its own path.

This is only possible by remaining proactive – always seeking out new opportunities or ways in which you could improve your current job – and through sustaining a firm belief in yourself as your own best leader.

There are some specific approaches that can also help. One is to think of your job in terms of the tasks it requires of you, not in terms of the job title. This will keep it in perspective, and keep a sense of fluidity about it. Focusing on elements will allow you to constantly alter aspects of your job and avoid falling into the position where your job feels all-consuming and out of your control.

Your work relationships are also worth considering. By thinking of your boss or colleagues as clients, you should be able to gain some distance from them and keep things on a professional, forward footing. Unfortunately it’s a truism that familiarity does breed contempt, so be vigilant about keeping your work relationships fresh.

Continued education is another great career mover. You may find yourself in the same role for five years, but if you are consistently enrolling in new courses or seeking out regular discussions with mentors, chances are your job will remain interesting to you and, importantly, you will keep it within your control.  This is not only true for seasoned professionals as even graduate careers can benefit from this strategy.