Career Lattice For some people, climbing a career ladder may not be the path to their ultimate career. Many individuals prefer lateral moves along with vertical moves. These moves can be seen in a career lattice. A career lattice is a series of lateral and vertical moves in one career field. The biggest distinction between a career ladder and a career lattice is that while a ladder refers only to the upward mobility of an employment field, a lattice also accounts for lateral transitions. Imagine you are employed as a mechanic for an independently owned automotive repair shop. If you accepted a job with the same title working in the repair shop of a nationwide automotive dealer, you would not be moving up to a higher level of employment, but lat- erally to the same job in the same industry, but with a different company. There are many reasons to consider a move like this. For example, companies with larger employment totals may have more opportunities for advancement or higher wages. Additionally, the new job may not require any additional skills, but may yield new knowledge and experience that can be valuable in the future. By using a career lattice strategy, employees can achieve continued growth and career develop- ment throughout a lifetime. A visual representation of a career lattice is shown in Figure 1-10. Career Portfolio A portfolio is a compilation of materials that provide evidence of a person’s qualifications, skills, and talents. As you begin planning your career, it is a good idea to start creating a portfolio. When you apply for a job, you will need to demonstrate to others how you are quali- fied for the position. Showcasing examples of work you have completed or awards you have received is one way to communicate your qualifications. As a part of the portfolio-creation process, collect and save all documentation that dem- onstrates your accomplishments. Include copies of cer- tificates, recommendation letters, and diplomas. If you have published articles or written other material that are exemplary of your writing, include those also. In addition, gather evidence of academic or work projects you have completed. These items are testimonials that strengthen your position as a potential employee. Career Lattice Lateral Move change to job in department or company Current Position Vertical Move increase responsibility Downward Move refocus career options Lateral Move change to job in department or company Goodheart-Willcox Publisher FIGURE 1-10 A career lattice is a series of lateral and vertical moves in one career field. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 12 Chapter 1 Preparing for Your Career