Before looking for an internship or job or embarking on another course of study, it’s essential to define your career plan. It will evolve throughout your career. For the moment, it’s simply about steering it in the right direction. One that will help you succeed in your professional life! 😁
The skills assessment you've already completed is the groundwork of your plan. Now we just have to give it some focus. Listen to your talents and aspirations, but also the requirements of the job market, and tackle what is achievable for you here and now! 😎
What is a career plan, anyway?
A career plan is a road map that will be associated with a plan of action.
To succeed, you will need to define your goal, define the resources and methods you will be able to use, and set yourself time frames and indicators of success.
The Action Plan
Your action plan will include:
A Goal
Your action plan's goal must reflect who you are and what job you want to do. It can sometimes include the sector, type of company or location you want to work in.
Resources
You will need to identify and decide on your means and resources.
For example:
Set aside time for your job search. Make time for it in your schedule.
Earmark a budget. Invest in a training course, buy interview clothes, subscribe to an industry-specific website, etc.
Your skills capital is also a resource. Showcase it by practicing talking about it and presenting your experiences.
Your network: Update your list of contacts, get in touch with people, let them know what you’re looking for!
Methods
We’re here to talk about it! Check out our Develop Your Personal Job Search Strategy and Land a Job courses to optimize your résumé and LinkedIn profile, find the right job openings, improve your interview technique, etc.
Timeframes
You’re going to set up a schedule. When do you want to be in the job? Again, be specific, but set a realistic time frame. Otherwise, there’s no point! This schedule will include the steps involved in the process.
You might have to consider factors such as the seasonal nature of some employment, e.g., September and January (beginning of the school year and calendar year). These are active hiring months in many companies. Also, consider jobs influenced by the fiscal year and jobs that are project-based.
Monitor Your Results!
Use a tracking table to monitor your progress, especially for job applications. You will be able to measure response time and see which and how many job offers lead to interviews (or not). This will help you focus your efforts on jobs that are better suited to your profile.
Be Realistic
Thankfully, your career plan is not set in stone! It should evolve over time, as your career develops and your situation (environment and opportunities) changes. You can set both short- and long-term goals to keep your plan flexible.
For example:
In the short term, I would like to find a job as a web developer and gain experience in an IT services company in New York.
In the medium term, I would like to manage a team and join a large company for at least 5 years.
In the long term, I would like to start my own digital services business and return to work in my hometown.
You can see that your career plan:
will incorporate elements of your work life but also your private life. One will influence the other.
will become increasingly uncertain the further into the future you plan ahead!
It is unique to you and reflects your motivations and goals for the future. However, it should also be realistic (accurately reflecting job market opportunities) and achievable (with regard to your abilities and skills).
It's nice to dream about the future, make plans and picture possibilities, but remember, the goal is to make your dreams come true. You will have to test and experience different situations and sometimes adjust your dream or come up with a new one!
Tailor your dreams to reality!
What is the Purpose of a Career Plan?
A career plan helps you chart a course of action!
Your career is a long journey that will influence your personal life, your physical and mental health and the course of your whole life.
What do you normally do when you leave for a long trip? You book a flight or other transportation, you save up money, learn a foreign language, make hotel or accommodation reservations, decide on your itinerary and destinations, etc.
It's the same in this case. You need to think about, analyze, (re)formulate and answer the following questions.
What motivates you? What makes you want to get up in the morning?
Where would you like to work? For what kind of organization?
What type of activity would you like to do?
What skills or assets do you already have?
What steps do you have to take before achieving your goal?
What skills do you need to develop?
These are the kinds of questions that will help you build your career plan.
Defining a career plan using goals, resources, methods, time frames and performance indicators will:
give meaning to the training you pursue and motivate you to succeed,
help you make choices more easily and quickly,
develop your self-confidence,
provide you with an overview or road map of the steps and actions you need to take to achieve your goals,
help you be more efficient in your job search by targeting market sectors and opportunities that best correspond to your training and skills,
help potential employers/recruitment agencies understand who you are and what drives you, so you can find a job that suits your interests and abilities.
help potential employers/recruitment agencies understand who you are and what drives you, so you can find a job that suits your interests and abilities.
Let's Recap!
A career plan is a plan of action with goals, resources, methods, time frames and performance indicators.
It's nice to dream about the future, but it's even better when your dreams come true! You will have to know how to adjust your plan and turn fantasy into reality.
Your career plan will chart a course mixing private and professional life. Take time to prepare for the trip, or you might get lost along the way!
Using this lesson, you can begin preparing your career plan with us right now!
