Planning your career goals is very important mainly because things may always not go your way when it comes to career goals. This is because of coincidences and/or luck. So, effectively plan for your future whether you are still studying or have been working for some time. We have already talked about all the things you need to know about personal development planning but here is our comprehensive guide on how to make a career plan:
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What is a career plan?
A career plan can be defined as a practical strategy which enables you to identify your interests and skills, set your career goals and have an action plan to help you achieve these goals.
This process is continuous and includes an overview of the following:
-Your career goals
-Your current skills and experience
-Your priorities
-Your interests
-Your intended actions
Why is career planning important?
One of the major benefits of career planning is the fact that it will help you ensure that your career is heading in the right direction.
Apart from helping you realise your passion, career planning will help facilitate your career goals with tangible aims and actions. At the very least, it will help you answer career goal questions at the interviews you attend.
Assessing your situation will help you know any gaps in your knowledge or experience that may be holding you back from your dream career.
Who Should Make A Career Plan?
Making a career plan can be beneficial for everyone including those who are still studying, those who have just graduated, those who want to change their careers, and those who want a promotion. A career plan will ensure that your actions are in line with your goals.
A career plan will help you implement big changes and also help you learn new skills and expand your knowledge in a certain area.
How to Make a Career Plan
Assess Your Options
The first thing you need to do when making a career plan is to determine the career that may be ideal for you. Make your choice depending on your strengths and interests, and consider the importance of factors such as salary, working hours, company culture and commute time.
Identify Your Skills
Identifying your abilities, skills and experience will help you choose a career that suits you. In addition, it will help you know whether or not you are qualified enough to take a certain job. Knowing those areas, you lack knowledge in will help you decide what to do in terms of training and development.
Set Goals and Actions
Once you have chosen a career that suits you, set some goals. These goals will help you determine the actions to take. They can be short-term or long-term and either small or big.
Set Deadlines for Yourself
If you have a deadline for every goal, then you are more likely to achieve your goals as the deadline will motivate you to get things done. You can pick a broader timescale e.g. a certain month or exact dates. Adding a deadline into your career plan will keep you motivated and give your goals a realistic context.
Keep Checking Back on Your Career Planner
Since a career plan is not a one-stop-solution, you need to ensure that you check back on your career plan from time to time to ensure that your career goals are up to date. This will enable you to track your progress and help you change your plans if your circumstances change.
How Should I Structure My Career Plan?
There are many ways to lay out career plans depending on how specific you want to be with your career goals and what you would like to take precedence on achieving.
However, keep in mind that your career planner needs to follow a clear and easy-to-read format.
