Career Planning Steps

What are your career goals?

It is important to know your overall goal when envisioning your career path. Think about where you would like to be at the end of your career and set your plan to get there. The best way to ensure compatibility and balance in your life and career is to consider all aspects of your life from the beginning of your plan.

Take a look at these career planning steps:

• Conduct self-assessment.


• Explore careers that interest you.


• Establish your career goals.


• Plan the actions that are needed to achieve your goals.


• If necessary, re-evaluate.

Once you have a sense of what you are trying to accomplish overall, you can pinpoint what it will take to reach your goals.

You have to start with where you are now. Take a personal inventory. It can reveal your current abilities, interests and attitudes. Reflect on what it is you have in the way of assets, such as: education, work experience and skills. Then, compare that to what you have stated for your goals.

Whatever it takes to get you from Point A to Point B is the actions you will need to take to start achieving those goals.

The inventory will also define your strengths and weaknesses. Looking for a match between your strengths and the work you are doing or considering is the most important step before making any decisions. Assessing your personality and attitudes will help you determine the best way for you to move toward your goal.

Understanding your weakness just gives you information about those things you need to work on.

Ask yourself some of the following questions:

• What are your current skills and achievements?


• What about knowledge and values?


• How will your learning style impact your pursuit?


• What are your interests?

Taking these career planning steps is so valuable. When you are clear on these things, you will be able to make better choices about the direction you want your career to take - and do a better job of convincing prospective employers that you are the best choice!

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