What is Career Planning?
Are you a graduate returning from the holidays and looking to get on that career ladder? Or perhaps you are a second or third jobber looking for some direction?
Ultimately, everyone wants a rewarding career but it should not be something left up to chance! Career planning is like preparing for a long journey using an intelligence roadmap – it is a strategic guide to achieving professional success!
It involves:
- Outlining your goals
- Understanding your strengths
- Matching them with the right opportunities
In this blog, we will guide you through identifying your career options, assessing how they align with your skills, and evaluate the financial and lifestyle benefits of each choice. This guide will provide you with the tool and strategies you need.
How to Build a Career Plan
Building a career plan is all about taking deliberate, actionable steps to shape your professional future. By following these steps, you will create a structured roadmap that guides you toward a fulfilling and successful career.
Step 1: Identify Your Career Options
As you kick start this project, begin with understanding your own preferences, strengths, and passions. There are no long-term gains in applying for jobs that will not make use of your talents. Begin with a simple self-evaluation to pinpoint your interests and skills.
Ask yourself:
- What energises you?
- What subjects fascinate you?
- Where have you excelled in the past?
Research different roles and industries, and consider informational interviews to gain insights from professionals in your fields of interest. We have a vast variety of blogs to use as a resource (including What Is a Family Office, What is Asset Management, Personal Assistant Job Description and Executive Assistant Job Description) By combining these approaches, you will narrow down a list of potential career paths that align with your values and aspirations.
Be sure to listen to our one of our most popular podcasts, Starting Your Job Search for more information.
Step 2: Identify Careers That Match Your Skills
Now that you have done some foundational research, start listing your technical and soft skills. Technical skills might be your expertise in certain tools or systems, while soft skills include your knack for communication or leadership.
For admin roles, we outline 9 soft skills to help you be successful in your role.
Think about what you excel at and enjoy most. For example, if you're a whiz at organising and love interacting with different departments, consider roles in office management or project management. You can even read how our very own Office Manager started and grew in her role.
Step 3: Assess Salaries And Other Benefits
Once you have pinpointed potential careers, it is time to dive into the details of salaries and benefits!
Why not check our own bi-annual salary survey and industry blogs to get a clear picture of what you can expect to earn?
Top Tip: Be sure to be realistic with your salary expectations as we are finding an increasing amount of candidates are limiting their chances of landing their dream job having not done this research.
Be sure to look into benefits like travel opportunities, annual leave, and professional development perks. For instance, a Personal Assistant role offering generous travel benefits might be perfect if you love exploring new places. It is not always about the paycheck!
Step 4: Compare Possible Career Paths
This step involves weighing each career path against your goals, values, and lifestyle. For example, you might find that a role with a higher salary but longer hours conflicts with your work-life balance, while a position offering more flexibility aligns perfectly with your personal needs.
Top Tip: Create a comparison chart or list to visualise the pros and cons of each option.
By evaluating these factors, you can make a well-informed decision that not only matches your skills but also fits your overall life plan.
Step 5: Establish SMART Goals
SMART goals are essential for career planning, offering a clear path to success. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, instead of "I want a promotion," aim for "I will become a senior manager within 12 months by completing training and taking on new projects."
Here’s a quick breakdown:
Specific: Define your goal clearly.
Measurable: Track your progress with clear criteria.
Achievable: Ensure it’s realistic.
Relevant: Align it with your career goals.
Time-bound: Set a deadline.
Step 6: Create Your Plan
It is time to pull everything together! Draft your career plan by consolidating all your insights and goals into a clear, actionable document. This plan acts as your roadmap, allowing you to track progress, adjust as needed, and stay focused. Having a tangible plan not only keeps you organised but also motivates you to stick to your objectives and adapt as your career evolves.
Get in touch with Bain and Gray
Embarking on a career journey is much like navigating a new adventure—it requires a thoughtful plan and clear direction. By following these strategic steps, you can transform your professional aspirations into reality.
- Identify Your Career Options: Begin with self-evaluation to uncover your interests and strengths, and explore roles through research and informational interviews.
- Match Careers to Your Skills: List your technical and soft skills to find careers where you can excel and enjoy your work.
- Assess Salaries and Benefits: Research salary expectations and benefits, including travel opportunities and professional perks, to find a role that aligns with your lifestyle.
- Compare Career Paths: Evaluate each career option based on your goals, values, and work-life balance to make an informed decision.
- Establish SMART Goals: Set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals to provide a clear path and stay motivated.
Bain and Gray is here not only help you with your job search, but assist you with your career goals. One of the most important reasons we stand out is that we put as much time and emphasis into our candidate care as we do of our clients. We get to know you as an individual, so we know we are putting you forward for the right jobs for you and your career. Contact Us today to speak to one of our consultants.
