Career planning helps you make decisions throughout your career, whether you are just starting or planning retirement. Follow these 4 steps to plan your career. Show
Figuring out what career path to follow starts with knowing yourself and knowing your options. Step 1: Get to know yourselfIdentify your vision, values, interests, skills, traits and abilities. It will help you decide what you want from your next career move. Then, think about your answers to these questions:
Step 2: Explore your occupational optionsExplore your options and gather information about them. What choices do you have? What does each one involve? Are there other options you haven’t thought about?
Step 3: Make your decision by evaluating your career optionsEvaluate your career options. Decide which ones are best for you at this stage of your life. Look at the pros and cons of each option. Consider the challenges you may face and how you can handle them. Step 4: Take action to achieve your career goalsDevelop a plan to make your options a reality. Identify the short-term and long-term steps that you need to take. Create deadlines for the completion of each step. Identify things you can do to stay motivated. Then take the steps you've identified. Use career planning to take charge of the changes in your life and workCareer planning is a practical way to manage the ongoing changes in your life and work. It helps you build on what you already have and think realistically about your priorities. Try the 4 career planning steps in CAREERinsite for a successful and satisfying career.
By Indeed Editorial Team Updated July 20, 2022 | Published December 12, 2019 Updated July 20, 2022 Published December 12, 2019 The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey. The career-planning process allows you to identify personal strengths and interests so you can discover professional opportunities you’re likely to both enjoy and excel in. This process includes a series of simple steps and can be reused throughout your career to ensure you’re working toward goals that still satisfy you, no matter where you are in your career trajectory. In this article, we explore common stages involved in the career-planning process and how to complete each of these six stages. What is career planning?Career planning is the process of discovering educational, training and professional opportunities that suit your interests, passions and goals. Before searching for jobs, you should set achievable long-term goals that identify what you want to be doing along your career path at five, 10, 15, 20 years and so on. Then, you can set short-term goals between each stage to ensure you have clear, actionable steps you can take to reach your long-term goals. Career planning allows you to outline your goals and reevaluate them as you progress. Related: What Is a Career Trajectory? (And How To Create One) Steps of the career-planning processDepending on your path, you may complete each step just once, or you may revisit the process to change direction and discover new career options. Here are the chronological stages of the career-planning process: 1. Self-exploration and assessmentYou first need to understand your needs, strengths, personality, skills, talents and interests to make informed academic and career decisions. You can determine these items on your own by making a series of lists or through a variety of tests, including:
You can also consider meeting with a career counselor. A career counselor specializes in helping professionals understand elements that can influence career decisions and identify possibilities they may not have considered. A career counselor might use skill identification exercises, interest inventories, communication and learning styles, and other methods to help you understand yourself better. Related: 12 Career Counseling Questions To Ask Your Career Counselor 2. Career researchAfter you determine your qualities and aptitudes, you can decide which types of careers you're interested in with research. Start with a list of roles and industries provided by your assessments or compile a list of characteristics in the work environment, responsibilities and advancement opportunities you want in your career. Using those characteristics, determine more roles and industries you may want to consider. Start further research by gathering basic information about each of the careers on your list. Look at the general description of each profession, along with general labor market information, such as median salary, common benefits, educational and training requirements and the likelihood of being hired after meeting all the requirements. Continue narrowing down your list of possible careers by learning what working in different fields is really like. Consider using your professional network to find people already in those roles and industries, or reach out to current professionals on career-focused social media platforms. You can also read company reviews for specific roles to find out as much as you can about the advantages and disadvantages of the field. Reading first-person perspectives could be invaluable when it is time to make a choice. Read more: How To Research Career Paths in 8 Steps (With Benefits) 3. Career exploration and experimentationAfter you have narrowed down your list of possible careers, find ways to experience each career in person. Here are some ways you can get a first-hand look at what a role entails:
4. Decision-making and career selectionWeigh the advantages and disadvantages of all of your options. You will need to consider many factors, including the possible balances between pay and enjoyment, the pros and cons of relocation, and the work-life balance. Go over all of your previous research as well as any related experiences very carefully, and organize them by preference from highest to lowest. This strategy helps you rank certain factors and roles over others to identify your top choice. Consider also identifying alternative yet similar options should your desires change as you progress or your job search does not lead to that role. Read more: How To Choose the Career Path That's Right for You 5. Final planning and actionGather all the information you have learned and determine an action plan. This plan should include background information, such as your employment history, education, level of training, volunteer and other unpaid experience. It should also include your professional licenses or certifications, the results of the self-evaluations mentioned in the first section, and career counselor advice you have received. Create detailed lists of short- and long-term goals you will need to achieve before you reach your final career goal. These lists should include all of the occupational, educational and training goals required to pursue your chosen career path. You should also consider the barriers to reaching those goals and how you plan to overcome them. These barriers could be financial, educational, vocational or personal, such as the cost of college, family obligations, or the need for tools and supplies for your chosen career. Consider writing out each step for your intended career path, including the steps you’ve already taken to see the progress you’ve already made. You can also do this for your alternative options to ensure you are prepared to follow them should your ideal option not work out. Related: How To Choose a Career Based on Your Interests 6. Job search and acceptanceUse your career plan to begin your job search. Identify specific roles and companies you’re interested in applying to, and compare those preferences and requirements to your career plan. See if there are steps you still need to take or if you’re qualified to apply. You can also use your goal-setting strategy and career plan to write an effective cover letter that demonstrates your passion for the role, field and employer. You can use your career plan to identify the steps you’ve taken on your path thus far and highlight your goal-setting skills and dedication. You can also apply these items during the interview process to prove your interest and qualification to prospective employers. If you receive a job offer, determine whether the salary, benefits, location, work-life balance and responsibilities match your self-assessment and action plan. Related: Try SMART Goals To Grow Your Career In 2022 In this video, you’ll learn how to set SMART goals, the key to not just dreaming but accomplishing what you set your mind to. What are the steps in making health career plan?8 Steps to an Effective Career Plan. Identify Your Career Options. Develop a refined list of career options by examining your interests, skills, and values through self-assessment. ... . Prioritize. It's not enough to list options. ... . Make Comparisons. ... . Consider Other Factors. ... . Make a Choice. ... . Set “SMART” Goals.. What are the 4 components and steps in making a health career plan?The career planning process has four components: (1) Self Assessment, (2) Career Exploration, (3) Career Identification, and (4) Action Plan.
How will you prepare for your personal health career?How to Prepare For Your Career in a Health Profession. Study and earn good grades. ... . Take 15-17 hours every semester. ... . Take at least two lab science courses each semester. ... . Choose a major based on “Plan B” ... . Start “helping people” now. ... . Participate in extracurricular activities. ... . Start writing a personal statement.. Which is the 5th step in career planning?Seniors | STEP 5: DECISION MAKING
Refer back to your career goals, interests, strengths, and values for guidance. Analyze job offers/graduate school admissions and weigh your options. Meet with a career coach to walk through your decision-making process.
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