Are you looking for a consistent career plan, or wondering how to take control of your own future? It’s essential to ask yourself this crucial question from time to time, especially during job interviews. Even if your company offers an individual development plan (IDP), you need to establish your own path to achieve your objectives, goals, and dreams.
Today’s professional environment is dynamic and constantly changing. Unlike previous generations, professionals are more likely to transition through various experiences throughout their careers. This significant shift in behavior has made career planning more important than ever.
In this article, we’ll teach you 6 crucial steps to put your career planning into practice right away. Let’s get started!
1. Career assessment
Before thinking about your next move, it is important to take stock of your past achievements and analyze your previous experiences. What have been your biggest successes so far? In which positions have you seen the greatest potential for success? Where do your skills lie? This task will contribute to your self-awareness and help identify your strengths.
2. Define your next steps
Now that you have assessed your career path, it’s time to think about your short-term goals. Use the assessment from the previous stage as a baseline, as well as analyzing external scenarios. Based on your skills and competencies, what is the next step for your career? Is there room in your current workplace for you to take this step, or will you need to look for opportunities outside your current environment?
3. Think long-term
Defining your next professional step doesn’t stop you from setting long-term goals. Combining short- and long-term goals is crucial for efficient career planning, ensuring you don’t lose sight of your big-picture goals. Therefore, think about questions such as: What is the ultimate position I want to be in 20 years from now? Do I want to start my own business? At what age do I want to retire? Which achievements will be decisive in measuring my success in the future?
4. Explore new possibilities
If you can’t answer all the questions in this career plan right away, no problem. The missing ingredient in an individual development plan is often the exploration of new possibilities. To do this, you will want to meet new people, gain hands-on experience and explore new sources of knowledge.
Immersion in a new culture, like short-term courses abroad, can be perfect for gaining new experiences that will serve as a basis for redefining your career planning.
5. Keep up with market trends
The top professions of the future haven’t even been created yet. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep up with trends in your market, to understand technological changes and what opportunities may arise. Being one step ahead when it comes to information can be the determining factor in getting ahead and applying these innovations both in your current position and as a basis for your career planning.
6. Schedule career planning reviews
Once your plan has been consolidated, set a reminder in your agenda to track the progress of your goals and revise your plans. At this stage, it’s time to reassess, check off any goals that have been achieved and calibrate them for the next cycle.
You’ve just unlocked an essential skill in career planning, make sure you to take it a step further. Discover how to take advantage of micro-credentials to enhance your resumé. You can find more information on how to do so here.