Career Development Plan

Often times when people learn about career development and what it entails teachers insist they will need to create a career development plan.

A career development plan (sometimes known as a career action plan) helps the job seeker go from deciding what career to pursue to becoming employed in that career opportunity. This process can take a couple or many steps. Also as lives change daily, it can become an ongoing process where the professional revisits former steps as her or she continues onward.

Those beginning a new career will find a career development plan extremely useful; as will those who already have an established career. This is usually done after the individual assesses their present skills and explores career options they are qualified to pursue.

So what is involved in setting up a career development plan? Once the person decides on an occupation it is advisable to sit down and plan how to go about it. Write down a listing of realistic short term and long term goals. The worker will most likely add onto the list as he or she gets closer to completing the other goals. Studies find that once a person writes a list of their intended goals the person tends to remain on track to completing them in a timely manner.

What sort of goals goes into a career development plan? That is really up to the individual. Examples include continuing education, working toward degrees, meeting with company representatives, learning to write grants and resumes, working with a life coach, learning new ways to complete a project, and the list goes on. The point is to add anything you think will help steer you toward the career of your dreams and keep you striving for more once you get there. The more a person plans their career development the better they will become at their chosen occupation – an expert.

A career development plan is for more than deciding how to go about starting an occupation. It shows the user how much work is involved to get there and remain allowing the person to decide if he or she is ready to walk the new path.

Many schools, colleges and universities hold classes to teach how to construct a career development plan for enrolled students. Some include a day, or weekend class opened to the public for free, or low fees. Some booths at job fairs give out free information booklets on career development and how to plan.

Call about classes, or search online to learn how to create your own career development plan.