Creating a career development plan is a great way to help you progress in your career. It outlines your short- and long-term goals, encouraging you to develop new skills, experience, and knowledge. Knowing how to create a detailed plan can improve your chances of following it. In this article, we discuss what a career development plan is, reasons to create one, and five steps to help you do so.
What is a career development plan?
A career development plan is a type of action plan of the short- and long-term goals you want to complete throughout your career. These goals are linked and lead toward a specific end goal, such as receiving a promotion or a new position. Your plan may include the following:
A starting point: Where you are now in your career.
A destination: Where you want to go in your career.
A gap: The obstacles you must overcome to reach the destination.
A route: Steps you can take to close the gap and reach your destination
Why create a career development plan?
Creating a career development plan is helpful at any stage in your career. If you just graduated from college or university, a plan can help you find and work toward your dream job. If you have been in the workforce for years, creating a plan can help you advance and receive new opportunities.
Mapping out your goals and future career can motivate you and help you stay focused. This increases your productivity and makes you a stronger employee. Having fixed goals also shows your managers and supervisors that you’re serious and passionate about your work.
How to create a career development plan
To create a plan to develop your career, consider the following steps:
1. Identify your current position
To start your plan, you need to identify where you are now in your career. To do this, reflect on your current position, skill set, strengths, and weaknesses. Ask yourself the following questions to start your reflection:
What do I enjoy doing?
What skills and talents do I have?
What skills or talents am I lacking?
What motivates me at work?
What professional experiences do I have?
Do I prefer leading a group, working with peers, or working alone?
What is my calling in life?
What excites or energizes me at work?
What drains my energy?
2. Identify your destination
Now that you know where you are in your career, determine where you want to go. To do this, try the following:
Brainstorm
The brainstorming stage is a great time to think about your dream career, regardless of how unrealistic it may seem. It can be a huge position, such as becoming the CEO of a company, and even if you’re in an entry-level role now, you can work toward it. Don’t think about anything that may hold you back. Instead, consider where you want to be in five to 10 years. Consider taking notes while you brainstorm to help you create your goals and plan later.
