5 Steps for Developing a Career Plan
If your career is shrinking due to the economy, you still should be able to find a new job with the right skills sets and knowledge. But it is also key to have
information about career trends especially for your long-term career planning success.
A career path that is expanding today could easily shrink tomorrow — or next year. It’s important to see where job growth is expected, especially in the career fields that most interest you. Besides knowledge of these trends, the other advantage of conducting this research is the power it gives you to adjust and strengthen your position, unique selling proposition and personal branding. One of the keys to job and career success is having a unique set of accomplishments, the skills and education that make you better than all others in your profession. Here are the steps for developing a career plan:
- Identify your next career move. If you have been examining multiple career paths, now is the time to narrow down the choices and focus on one or two careers.
- Conduct detailed career research and gather information on the careers that most interest you.
- Pinpoint the qualifications you need to move to the next step in your career or to make the move to a new career path. If you’re not sure, search job postings and job ads, conduct informational interviews and research job descriptions.
- Compare your current profile with the qualifications developed in step 3. How far apart are the two profiles? If fairly well-matched, it may be time to switch to a job-search mode. If fairly far apart, can you realistically achieve the qualifications in the short-term? If yes, move to the next step; if no, consider returning to the first step.
- Develop a plan to get qualified. Make a list of the types of qualifications you need to enhance your standing for your next career move, such as receiving additional training, certifications or experience. Develop a timeline and action plans for achieving each type, being sure to set specific goals and priorities.
For more information on career success and planning visit: http://tiny.cc/MHqqT.
