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Career / The Ultimate Career Guide

How to plan your career: A step-by-step guide (Career Resource no. 12)

March 15, 2022
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In our previous article we discussed ways to explore the job market in order to find the most suitable job for you. In this article we take a step further to talk about feasible ways in which you can plan your career, because no goal can be reached without a specific plan in mind. Read further to find the psychology hacks that will help you plan your career to reach the career goals of your dreams. 

Step 1. Assess your strengths and weaknesses

It can be really difficult to plan your career without knowing what you are good at and what you need to improve. The first thing you need to do before you plan your career is assess your own skills and capabilities. What are you good at? What is something that comes to you naturally? Is there something you would like to improve? If you struggle with identifying your strengths and weaknesses head out to our articles on expertise and soft skills to find out ways in which you can self-assess and practical tips on improving your skills.

Step 2. Have clear career goals 

I am sure you know at least one person who is just navigating the job market, getting jobs here and there without a clear goal in mind. You do not want to be that person. 

Here’s why:
People who do not have a clear idea about their career goals are less likely to build a coherent CV that shows expertise in a certain field. This might mean that they will feel less valued by their employers and ultimately have a lower career motivation. Consequently, this decreases their employability but also salary perspectives. 

Therefore, starting your career plan with clear career goals is essential for creating a feasible, coherent plan in the long-term. In order to have a clear career goal in mind ask yourself: 

  1. What do I want to achieve in my career?
  2. What are my values and interests and what kind of jobs fit them?
  3. What are my strengths and which jobs emphasise them?
  4. What salary fits my dream lifestyle?
  5. What do I want to be an expert in? What do I want my superpower to be?

Step 3. Prepare yourself

Now that you have a clear career goal in mind that is also in line with your personality, values and interests, start preparing yourself. Just like when cooking a recipe, you need to buy the ingredients first. Assess your resume, and reflect on potential gaps you might need to fill that are needed for your career goals. This can relate to acquiring more expertise in a specific field or hands-on experience through the means of internships or workshops. Remember, you can always ask your manager or HR representative about trainings and projects you could jump on to improve your skills and expertise. This is how you make sure you have the necessary ingredients for the career of your dreams.

Step 4. Get out of your comfort zone and start networking

While this might be the most difficult part, getting out of your comfort zone is crucial. Seeking opportunities and visibility will increase the likelihood that your career plans are implemented. To reach your career goals, you need people to see you. This way, you can create opportunities for your future, get to know more people, get inspired and increase your people skills. So do not hesitate to join the next networking event. If you are unsure about how networking works, check out what networking experts do to create and nurture beneficial relationships with others. 

Step 5. Create a decision-making hack

Life does not always turn out the way we planned and uncertainty is always a factor to consider. To make sure your plan is still feasible, try creating a feedback loop every year or two so you can assess whether your plan is going accordingly or whether you might need to make some changes. Most importantly, be honest and kind with yourself and keep your career goal in mind. So, whenever you have to make a big decision, refer back to your overall career goal. Ask yourself which decision aligns with these goals? Then choose wisely. 

Get the support you always wanted

We know that sometimes, small actions of reflection like the ones we suggest in this article, quickly slip our mind and before we know it, we forget about them altogether. If you need an occasional reminder, follow us on our Instagram and Facebook page – we use it as an interactive way to help each other implement the advice we suggest in our blog posts. And we love to hear about your experiences and thoughts!

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This post is based on the following sources and academic articles:

Hirschi, A., Nagy, N., Baumeler, F., Johnston, C. S., & Spurk, D. (2018). Assessing key predictors of career success: Development and validation of the career resources questionnaire. Journal of Career Assessment, 26(2), 338–358. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072717695584

Lent, R. W. (2013). Career-Life Preparedness: Revisiting Career Planning and Adjustment in the New Workplace. Career Development Quarterly, 61(1), 2-14.

Photo by Polina Zimmerman from Pexels