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Career Planning
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
What is it?
"Career planning is a deliberate process of becoming aware of self, opportunities, constraints, choices, and consequences; identifying career-related goals; and "career pathing" or programming work, education, and related developmental experiences to provide the direction, timing, and sequence of steps to attain a specific career goal." (McMahon and Merman: 1987)
A career plan is a practical strategy, a roadmap that lists short and long-term career goals and the key actions you can take to achieve them.
What is the Value of it?
The advantage of utilising career planning is that it empowers you to make informed choices about your current job situation as well as future career moves. A broader, more strategic career plan is also important when it comes to helping you stay motivated and inspired.
Some other benefits of career planning include:
1. Increases Productivity 2. Helps in Selecting Career Path 3. Ensures Self-Development 4. Fulfilment of Individual Needs 5. Sense of Affiliation 6. Opportunity for Optimal Returns 7. Awareness of Work Environment 8. Retains Control 9. Job Satisfaction and 10. Increase in Knowledge.
The career planning process is a useful technique you can apply throughout your career as you redefine yourself and your occupational interests, and as your goals evolve.
Key Principles
- Reflect – Who am I? What do I want to do? How far do I want to go? What do I have to offer?
- Research – What industries or employers are appealing? What kinds of jobs or job titles resonate with me? Which positions best match who I am and what I have to offer?
- Plan – What does my Future Work Self look like? What are my short-term and long-term goals? What education and training do I need to reach my goals? Who do I need to network with? What time frames?
- Take Action – Do I need to create a resume, compose cover letters, or improve my interview technique? Do I need to find a mentor or get executive coaching? Do I need to tell my boss I want a promotion?
Self-Coaching Questions
- If I really could have it all, what’s my vision for my ideal career?
- How does my current job align with this vision?
- What do I need more of at my job?
- What do I need less of?
- When it comes to my performance and my career thus far, am I more reactive or proactive?
- How can I be more proactive?
- What can I learn now that excites me?
- What are two goals I can work toward that will make me a better leader or employee (or both!)?
- How can I add more value to my organization during this time of crisis?
Free Online Resources
- Career planning and decision making—all our best resources (8000hours.org)
https://80000hours.org/career-planning/
- Post Grad Environments - Career Template
https://postgradenvironments.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/career-plan-template.pdf
- The 5 minute Career Action Plan (jobs.ac.uk)
https://www.jobs.ac.uk/media/pdf/careers/resources/the-5-minute-career-action-plan.pdf
- PerTemps Professional Development
https://www.pertempspd.co.uk/media/5nxdxbkc/3a-ct-personal-career-planning-template-v1.pdf
- Free Downloadable Career Action Plan (personalcareermanagement.com)
https://www.personalcareermanagement.com/career-tips/free-downloadable-career-action-plan/
Academic & Industry Articles
- Executive Career Planning
https://ginettesibley.com/executive-career-planning
- Executive career planning: 5 things you need to do to reach C-level https://www.viglobal.com/2018/07/10/executive-career-planning-5-things-you-need-to-do-to-reach-c-level/
- Career mapping: How to become an executive in the next 5 years
https://www.hult.edu/blog/career-mapping-how-to-become-an-executive-in-the-next-5-years/
- Career Management: Strategies for Senior-Level Executives
- 5 Tips for Executive Career Management & Growthhttps://alderkoten.com/5-tips-for-executive-career-management-growth/
- Executive Career Management: Three Strategies For Doing It Right https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/09/01/executive-career-management-three-strategies-for-doing-it-right/#514b5c386ca9
- The Fastest Path to the CEO Job, According to a 10-Year Studyhttps://hbr.org/2018/01/the-fastest-path-to-the-ceo-job-according-to-a-10-year-study
- Executive Coaching for Directorshttps://www.personalcareermanagement.com/individual-services/executive-career-coaching/
- Four Steps to Executive Career Planninghttps://www.bluesteps.com/blog/four-steps-executive-career-planning
- Executive Career Planning: The Six-Step Solutionhttps://www.bluesteps.com/blog/executive-career-planning-six-step-solution
- Executive Career Managementhttps://next-act.com/candidates/executive-career-management/
- Personal career plan and its importance to your future success https://careerconsultants.co.uk/importance-of-career-planning/
- 3 career progression strategies for your executive careerhttps://www.roberthalf.co.uk/advice/c-suite/3-career-progression-strategies-your-executive-career
- A Simple 5 Step Career Planning Guide for Leadershttps://peopleleaders.com.au/a-simple-5-step-career-planning-guide-for-leaders/
- 10 Career Development Goalshttps://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/career-development-goals
- Career Goals for Many Executives Appear to Be Shifting
- Career Goalhttps://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/careers/jobs/career-goal/
- Executive Career Managementhttps://www.harveycareers.com/career-management/
- Do You Have a Strategic Career Plan?https://www.cornerstone-group.com/2017/01/18/strategic-career-plan/
- Reach your goals with strategic career planning
- 10 Most Effective Career Planning Strategieshttps://www.careeraddict.com/career-planning-strategies
- How to Create a Strategic Career Planhttps://work.chron.com/create-strategic-career-plan-29064.html
- 3 Basic tips for strategic career planninghttps://blog.matrixlms.com/3-basic-tips-for-strategic-career-planning/
- 6 Career Planning Strategies to Propel Growthhttps://kirbybates.com/blog/career-planning-strategies-to-propel-growth/
- How to: Make a career planhttps://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/how-to-make-a-career-plan/
- How to Make a Career Plan in 8 Stepshttps://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/make-a-career-plan
- Career Planning Strategieshttps://www.educba.com/career-planning-strategies/
- Why Career Planning is Important and How to Do Ithttps://www.chime.com/blog/why-career-planning-is-important-and-how-to-do-it/
- 10 steps to map out a strategic plan for your career
- The Personal Strategic Plan: A Tool for Career Planning and Advancement https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1P3-670531651/the-personal-strategic-plan-a-tool-for-career-planning
- 3 Steps To Develop Your Career Plan
- Career Assessment in 20 Questions: Dr. Laurie’s 20 Questions© for Individual Career Planning http://www.snl.com/Cache/IRCache/dad5a382-0504-5764-8ebf-7cfb3fc01828.PDF?O=PDF&T=&Y=&D=&FID=dad5a382-0504-5764-8ebf-7cfb3fc01828&iid=4643328
- 5 Tips to Improve Your Career Developmenthttps://www.thebalancecareers.com/improving-career-development-4058289
- How to Plan Your Careerhttps://managementhelp.org/careers/planning.htm
- Career planning and development: Meeting business and employee needs https://learn.marsdd.com/article/career-development/
- 3 Steps To Create Your Own Career Development Planhttps://www.workitdaily.com/how-to-create-career-development-plan/figure-out-your-destination
- SWOT - Strategic Planning for Your Careerhttps://www.job-hunt.org/onlinejobsearchguide/article_SWOT-career-analysis.shtml
- Planning Your Careerhttps://www.uwindsor.ca/career-development-experiential/314/planning-your-career
- Plan Your Careerhttps://www.wgu.edu/career-services/resource-library/plan-your-career.html
- 5 Strategies For Effectively Managing Your Career Developmenthttps://www.jumpstartinc.org/5-strategies-effectively-managing-career-development/
- Think Strategically About Your Career Developmenthttps://hbr.org/2016/12/think-strategically-about-your-career-development
- Strategic career planning: 4 lessonshttps://www.dnaindia.com/business/column-strategic-career-planning-4-lessons-2566874
- 10 steps to creating a strategic plan for your career
- DEVELOPING YOUR PERSONAL CAREER STRATEGY (PCS)https://mba.smeal.psu.edu/careers-recruiting/career-preparation/personal_career_strategy.pdf
- Career planning: Your career, your life
https://www.coursera.org/learn/career-development-planning
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