Before you plan a career, you must first clarify your goals. A career plan is like a road map. You have a starting point, and ending point, and several pit stops in between.
How to Plan a Career
If you were driving from San Diego to New York, you wouldnt just jump in the car not knowing where you were going. Youd determine a route and maybe stop in some cities along the way that youve always wanted to visit–perhaps even book hotels in advance. Some of you would even create a budget and timeline. Its a long journey, so the more prepared you are, the more hassle-free your trip will be.
When you plan a career, similar principles apply. Preparation can help you get to where you want to go faster. What must you learn or gain experience in before you reach your career goal? Referencing back to the trip, lets say a highway has closed and you need to change your course. This is perfectly normal on the career path as well. You will come across barriers that prevent you from moving forward. Deviation from the plan (whether by your choice or not) is inevitable; it is always a work in progress. You revise and keep going.
Even though your plan may change from time to time, its still important to start out with some type of strategy. When you plan a career, a well designed strategy with clear-cut goals can elucidate the road ahead. Without one, you might never leave the starting point–and if you do, you could just wind up in no mans land.
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