Just because you fell into your current job doesn't mean you have to leave the rest of your career to chance. In fact, today the need to enjoy work is the very thing that's driving career planning, with jobseekers unwilling to compromise their values and passions for a crust.
“Everyone should have a career plan,” says Craig Bernhardt, director of temporary services at Robert Half. “It’s an evolving, lifelong process that provides you with the necessary tools to evaluate, select, and even change your career path.”
And those aren’t the only reasons. According to research, Generation X-ers will have an average of 10 to 12 jobs in their lives, while Generation Y-ers will have up to five careers and more than 20 employers.
Bearing this in mind, there are four essential elements to career planning: analysis, exploration, selection, and planning. According to Bernhardt, if doing what you love is your goal, it's best to put in the groundwork.
“You need to ensure that your career plan is well thought out, has a purpose and brings you closer to your end goals,” he says.
The first thing you need to do is conduct a detailed self analysis and, as obvious as it may seem, it pays to give yourself plenty of time. Not only will you have to weigh up your interests, values, and skills, you'll also have to think about your personality and values.
“Find out what you’re really good at by asking family and friends,” suggests Bernhardt. “And remember to consider your preferred work environments and development needs too.”
Once the self analysis is complete, it's time to start exploring the career options that interest you the most. Would you rather be an advertising account executive or a marketing officer? Are software engineers paid more than software developers? What’s the difference between an urban planner and an architect?
“Research the occupations and industries you’d like to work in and try to speak to people with professional experience in those fields,” says Bernhardt.
With the career exploration done, it's time for you to select possible career paths. Even if you're not moving towards a new company and a new role, you’ll still need both short and long-term milestones to get to where you want to go. If you're thinking of staying with your current company in a new role, for example, you'll need to determine the best way of doing so – most employers would rather retain existing employees than hire new ones.
“Many people think they need to change jobs completely in order to affect career change,” explains Bernhardt. “But sometimes all it takes is for you to sit down with your manager and communicate your desire to shift jobs or responsibilities.”
Now it's time to identify any additional training you need, followed by education requirements. You'll need to develop a job search strategy at this point, and may also need the services of a recruitment consultant, who can offer insights into companies you’d like to work for and even provide free skills training.
In the end, whether you're staying in the same role with new responsibilities or going for a complete career change, don’t be afraid to take a step backwards so you can move forward, or to make a lateral move in order to develop essential skills.
“Make sure you review your career plan yearly to ensure you’re on track to meet your goals,” says Bernhardt.
