Erica writes:
I need to do a personal strategic plan regarding my career for myself. I am not sure of how or where to start. Can you help? Do you have a sample I could see?
The Career Doctor responds:
I’m not sure what has inspired you to do so, but I think it’s a great idea for everyone to take time away from the daily grind to reflect on your career. More specifically, this time would be wisely spent reviewing where you have been, where you are now, and where you see yourself in the future.
When should you do your strategic planning? Ideally, take a long weekend or some vacation days so you truly have the time and attitude to devout to this project — and the summer is a great time for many of us to do so. Should you do this kind of planning even if you are very happy in your current job/career? Of course! It’s the same thing as with the idea of always having a current resume — it’s always better to be prepared for the unexpected.
I am going to assume you are happy in your career, that way we can skip the career exploration part of career planning. However, if you are thinking of a future in a different career, be sure to add exploration as part of your plan.
So, here are the steps:
- Identify your next career move. If you have been examining multiple career paths, now is the time to narrow down the choices and focus on one or two careers.
- Conduct detailed career research and gather information on the careers that most interest you. Use the many resources we list in our Career Research Checklist.
- Pinpoint the qualifications you need to move to the next step in your career or to make the move to a new career path. If you’re not sure, search job postings and job ads, conduct informational interviews, research job descriptions.
- Compare your current profile with the qualifications developed in step 3. How far apart are the two profiles? If fairly well-matched, it may be time to switch to a job-search. If fairly far apart, can you realistically achieve the qualifications in the short-term? If yes, move to the next step; if no, consider returning to the first step.
- Develop a plan to get qualified. Make a list of the types of qualifications you need to enhance your standing for your next career move, such as receiving additional training, certification, or experience. Develop a timeline and action plans for achieving each type, being sure to set specific goals and priorities.
Get much more information, details, and links in this article published on Quintessential Careers: Developing a Strategic Vision for Your Career Plan.
