Whether you’re a recent grad or a seasoned veteran in the workforce, you need a career plan that will successfully guide you through your professional life. Otherwise, you may not reach your desired goals – or, best case, it will take you considerably longer to get there.
What Does Your Plan Look Like?
Embrace the notion that you will achieve your goals – even if your career path doesn’t follow a completely straight line. Your plan can be as unique as the individual you are, as long as you stay proactive and flexible, and manage it effectively along the way.
As you begin to formulate your plan, be sure to account for:
- Your value proposition. In a nutshell, this is a definition of what makes you uniquely marketable to potential employers. In addition to relevant skills and experience, it includes your best soft skills, such as communication, critical thinking, teamwork and conflict resolution. Also, incorporate your extracurricular activities, volunteer work and non-professional jobs. Employers want well-rounded people with a history of being active and demonstrating they manage their time well.
- Your strengths and weaknesses. Make an honest, realistic list of your strengths and weaknesses and include them in your plan, so you can use them to help clarify your career goals. If you’re not sure where to start, try conducting a SWOT analysis.
- Your timeline. You don’t have to have every detail mapped out, but think about where you want to be in three to five, and even 10 years. Then, you can outline the steps you’ll need to take to reach these milestones.
- Break your goals down into smaller, more manageable steps. Then, the whole process won’t feel so overwhelming or intimidating.
- Add your networking resources. List all the contacts and connections who can help you achieve your goals. These can include colleagues, mentors, former managers, professors, and family members and friends, if relevant. Use your networks strategically to learn more about potential roles, employers and specialty fields.
Commit to Your Plan
Even if your plan changes over time (because hint: it probably will!) make a commitment to follow it, wherever it leads you.
- Trust your instincts – and be realistic. There will be obstacles along the say. However, every setback is well worth it, if you stick to your plan and refuse to give up, even when you feel discouraged.
If you were serious about planning the best possible function, you’d enlist the expertise of an event planner. If you wanted to optimize your investments, you’d hire a financial planner. So, why not partner with an experienced career planner – a coach who can work with you as you take your career to the next level? In California’s Central Valley, you can find the coach – and expertise, contacts and resources – you need at PrideStaff Fresno. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.