We often like to hope that things will go according to our dreams, but luck or coincidence is not always in our favour, particularly when it comes to careers. That is why it is imperative to effectively plan for the future, whether you are still in school, or have been in the job industry for a minute.
We have already comprehensively covered what you need to know regarding personal development planning, and in this post, we are going to look at how you can create a solid career plan using the aid of the best marketing recruitment agencies.
But before we jump in, just what is a career plan? Well, this refers to a practical strategy that enables you to figure out your interests and skills, set goals and put actions into place that will help you achieve them.
Building a career plan is a continuous process that entails an overview of the following:
-Your interests
-Your career goals
-Your priorities and intended actions
-Your current experience and skills
The Importance of Career Planning
Career planning is an excellent way of ensuring that you are headed in the direction of achieving what you have always wanted to do. It not only helps you know your passion but ideally facilitates your career goals with tangible aims and actions. At the very least, a career plan will help you answer career goals the next time you’re in a job interview.
By properly evaluating your situation, you will also be able to figure out and fill any gaps in your experience and knowledge that might be holding you back from your ultimate job position.
Who Should Create a Career Plan?
Anyone and everyone can benefit from building a career plan. Whether you are still in school, just graduated, itching for a promotion, or want to shift careers, a career plan will help ascertain your actions are in line with your dreams or goals. Keep in mind that a career plan does not just help implement big changes. You can also implement it for expounding your knowledge and learning new skills in a certain field.
So, How Do You Create a Career Plan?
1. Evaluate Your Options
First and foremost, you need to find a career that suits you. Make your choice based on your strengths and interests, and also consider factors such as salary, working hours, commute time and company culture.
2. List Your Current Skills
Listing your current abilities, experience and skills will not only help you figure out the best career path for you but also know if you are qualified enough to take your path of choice. Places where you lack in knowledge will dictate the actions you need to take in regards to training and development.
3. Set Goals & Actions
Once you have settled on a career path, the next step is to set your goals. These will help dictate the actions you should take. They can be either long term or short term, big or small goals.
4. Set Timeframes
Having deadlines for your goals will motivate you to accomplish them. Whether you set exact dates or go with a broader timescale, incorporating this to your career plan will make it more robust by adding some realistic context in addition to keeping you motivated.
5. Keep Checking Back
As mentioned earlier, creating a career plan is not a one-time thing. You need to go through your plan occasionally to ensure your goals are up to date. This will not only help you track your progress, but also make changes when circumstances change.
And there you have it, tips and steps to follow when creating a career plan.