From high school to retirement, we will be asked “What do you want to do?” or “what do you do?”
The question can be daunting if we’re feeling stuck, without direction, lacking insight into the market, hearing about the economic status, comparing yourself to others and their success, etc.
It can be confusing if you know your KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Ability), but not certain how your it apply to the workforce or how to even get there.
It can be frustrating to know what you want, but uncertain of what strategic plays you need to make to get to your desired goal or even when you’ll get there.
Many will follow the job market availability and go with the flow. This works until it doesn’t and some can face serious life crisis because they aren’t happy with their career and don’t know how they got there and how to get to to their goal.
All this could be mitigated with a career plan.
What is Career Planning?
Career planning is the structured process of setting career goals and creating a roadmap to achieve them. It takes into account your personality, strengths, career interests, job market fluctuations, and sets milestones to get you towards your goal.
Think of it like having a GPS for your professional development. Instead of wondering aimlessly, you have clear direction, maybe avoid traffic (career traps), and know exactly when you’re expected to arrive at your career destination.
Why is Career Planning Important?
The benefits of career planning are numerous and significant.
It boosts your confidence, enhances your job satisfaction, and increases your ability to adapt to changes in the job market. By having a plan, you are better equipped to navigate the ever-evolving professional landscape.
Having a strategic career plan also enables you to identify and focus on your strengths while addressing areas that may require improvement. This proactive approach facilitates continuous growth and learning, ensuring that you remain competitive and relevant.
Moreover, career planning enhances your motivation and commitment, as it provides a sense of purpose and direction in your professional life. Refer to the Change Management Cycle for more information on avoiding false starts.
Another key benefit is the ability to anticipate and prepare for potential challenges.
By regularly reviewing and updating your career plan, you can stay ahead of industry trends and shifts, positioning yourself to take advantage of new opportunities as they arise.
Ultimately, career planning is an investment in your future. It empowers you to take control of your career trajectory, enabling you to build a fulfilling and successful professional life that aligns with your personal values and ambitions.
So, whether you’re just starting out or looking to advance in your career, taking the time to plan and reflect is a step toward achieving your dreams.
What is the Career Planning Process?
The career planning process is a personalized journey that requires introspection and dedication.
Begin by conducting a thorough self-assessment to understand your strengths, weaknesses, and interests. This initial step is crucial, as it forms the foundation upon which you build your career strategy. MBTI and Strong Interest Inventory can help! These assessments can help you recognize strenghts that are just below the surface of our awareness. Learn More…
Sadly, this takes active effort and hard questions to get to the root of self-discovery, and it’s often overlooked before moving towards the action steps of creating a robust career plan.
Next, set specific, achievable goals that serve as milestones on your path to success. These goals should be both short-term and long-term, providing a clear framework for your career journey. Short-term is quarterly or semi-annually, long-terms is beyond six months. Ideally SMART Goals…
Exploration is another key component of career planning.
Research various career options, industries, and roles that align with your interests and goals. Networking with professionals, attending industry events, and seeking mentorship can provide valuable insights and open doors to opportunities you may not have considered.
Once you have a clear understanding of your desired career path, it’s time to make informed decisions and take actionable steps. This might involve pursuing further education, gaining relevant experience, or acquiring new skills.
Remember, career planning is not static. Revisit and adjust your plan to account for changes in the job market, emerging trends, and your evolving interests and goals, ideally annually. Conducting an assessment and accomplishments at the end of the year can prepare you to take advantage of Q1 hiring season.
A Client Example
I started working with a client who was frustrated, annoyed, depressed, and felt stuck in their career and didn’t see any opportunity for upward mobility.
Begrudgingly, they called me to talk about how they feel hopeless and don’t see a way out of the rut. This was in 2013; we talked for a few weeks and we created a career plan, outlining milestones and strategies for every 2 years until they were where they wanted to be.
In 2015 they pursued higher education, in 2017 they started professional certification and completed it in 2019, but due to COVID they didn’t join the senior leadership team until 2021.
In eight years, they went from making $43k to over $200k annually, accelerating conservatively.
Currently, they are 1-2 steps away from entering the executive leadership role.
All because they knew the steps and milestones they needed to achieve to keep making progress and they adjusted to the changing times and their interests, and kept moving forward with their goal. From feeling frustrated, annoyed, depressed and stuck to feeling confident and calm about their progress. The Power of a Career Plan.
How do you start your Career Plan?
The process is simple, but the actions can be challenging specially if you’re doing this alone. It’s ideal to have a few people help you in your career planning because the diversity of thought, perspective, and questions will help you flush out details and strengthen your plan or work with a career coach to development yours.
Here are the 5 steps you need to start your Career Plan:
- Self-Assessment
- SMART Career Goal Setting
- Exploring Career Options
- Making and Revising Decisions
- Taking Actionable Steps
Self-Assessment
Self-Assessments are the foundation of the career plan, nearly 40% of your time and energy needs to be on your self assessment, not only at the beginning of developing your Career plan, but throughout your journey. It’s because we change, we grow, we develop different interests, priorities shift, we find another avenue, etc.
The MBTI personality assessment fluctuates little to none for most of us – this is a strong baseline to understand our preferences and how we operate. Taking this tried and tested assessment can help you identify your strengths and make you aware of your challenges.
Additionally, if you’re feeling overwhelmed with options or can’t see any options for your interests, the Strong Interest Inventory can be helpful in profiling your interests and highlight several unique combinations of interest and open
SMART Career Goal Setting
Setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound) goals will serve as your milestone checkpoint – giving you another assessment if you’re on track, ahead of track, or have fallen behind. At first, setting SMART goals can feel daunting, but with practice you’ll be able to focus on your career plan and visit your SMART career goals quaterly and annually to ensure you’re on track!
Exploring Career Options
Making and Revising Decisions
Just because you have this plan doesn’t mean your plans can’t change. There’s a LOT that is within your control and a lot that is within your influence, and even more that is outside of your control. Staying aware of your career options, creating short-term and long-term goals, and staying grounded with your strenghs and developing your interest and challenges will help you in adapting to job market, innovation, family/life adjustments. Stay open to making and revising your decisions because the career journey is continuous.
Take Actionable Steps
Each step requires you to stay mindful and balanced in your career and life. It requires you to stay committed and recognize when an opportunity is aligned with your career plan and which are a distraction. Being mindful of these steps and at the center your desires, you’ll be able to walk confidently throughout your career.
Conclusion: Your Next Steps in Career Planning
Are you ready to embark on your career planning journey?
Remember, it’s about taking control of your professional future. Start with self-assessment, set clear goals, explore your options, and take decisive actions. Engage with your career planning actively and with intention. After all, this is your roadmap to success, and the journey is yours to navigate. Happy planning!
