A Practical Guide to Crafting a Career Development Plan

2017 can be another year you “surf” in your career, letting other people’s plans and requests decide what projects you’ll take on and what you’ll do.  Or it can be the year you choose how your career will develop and then follow that route.

If taking charge of your own career development appeals to you, here’s a practical guide to get you started.

  1. Consider your goals. What do you want to achieve in the next year? In three years?  In five years?  Do you want to be in the same job you currently have, or do you want to be working in a new position or for a new employer?  The first step in creating a career development plan is knowing what your goals are, so spend some time thinking about what you really want.
  2. Decide what skills you’ll need. Now that you know what your goals are, start looking at what skills you’ll need to achieve them. For each skill you list, add two or three ways you might build that skill.  For instance, if you want to move into management and need leadership skills, build them by taking a class or by offering to head up a project with your favorite volunteer organization.
  3. Look at what your current career position offers. Talk to your supervisor or look at materials from your latest performance review to see whether you’ll be able to fulfill your career goals within your employer’s plans in the coming year. For instance, if you want to learn a new skill and your employer is launching a new project, you may have found an opportunity to fulfill your goals while making yourself indispensable to your employer.  Win-win!
  4. Create a plan. Once you know what you want and have some idea whether it’s achievable at your current job, it’s time to make a plan. Perhaps you’ll ask to be included on a project, or schedule a meeting with your boss to talk about your goals for promotion.  Or if your current employer looks like a “dead end,” maybe it’s time to call your recruiter about other opportunities.

At Marquee Staffing, our experienced recruiters can help you create a career development plan that will move you closer to your goals.  Contact us today to learn more about our job opportunities in Orange County and beyond.

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