Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting out in your career, it’s essential to have a career plan which keeps you focused on your career goals. 

These career planning techniques will help you set the foundation you will need to build your plan. 

Develop a vision

Before you set strategic goals, use your imagination to create a vivid picture of how you want your life and career to be. This will help you set goals that are ambitious but achievable and will keep you motivated as you work towards them.

Developing a vision is essential for career satisfaction. It involves taking a good look at yourself - your personality, values, skills, motivations and interests. This can help you identify your ideal career or find ways to improve your current job. You may think you know yourself well, but most of us have blind spots, so this is a critical career planning strategy.

Set  goals 

When you are ready to set your career goals, take the information you have gained through the previous strategies and write down some SMART goals:

• Specific: Your goals are well-defined and focused 
• Measurable: There is a to track your goals and know when you are successful
• Attainable: Your goals are realistic, and you can obtain the tools or resources to achieve them
• Relevant: Your goals align with your career plans
• Timed: There is a deadline 

You may want to split your goals into two categories: short-term and long-term. For example, if you are changing your career, then your long-term goal might be to set up your own business. In the short-term, though, your aim might be to find a part-time job while you work on your business.

It’s important not to set too many goals for yourself as you may spread yourself too thin. Identify what your priorities are and focus on achieving those goals first. You can always revisit your goals later on as things may change, but it’s important to be realistic about what you can achieve.

Understand the job market

Once you have a better understanding of yourself, the next step is to learn more about the job market. 

To develop an effective career plan, you need to know which employability skills are in demand. The world of work is changing at a rapid pace, and to stay relevant, you may need to acquire new skills.

 Researching your profession could also help you identify the skills that are crucial within your own industry. A good strategy here is to look at job advertisements to see what skills employers are specifically asking for.  

Action plan

Goals without actions are just dreams. Once you have written down your goals, you need to identify some concrete steps that will allow you to achieve them. 

These actions should be written down next to each goal so that you stay committed to them. Of course, each action will vary depending on the goal.

Actions, just like goals, need to be realistic and prioritised. When setting actions, you should also consider the resources you need or the time involved to carry them out. 

Review and update 

Schedule time to review and update your plan regularly. Once you get used to your career planning process, it will become easier and more intuitive. After a while, you will know when it’s time to whip out your plan and won’t need a reminder.

Keep learning 

Lifelong learning is crucial to your overall career development. It helps you maintain your skills, stay relevant to your industry, and sharpen areas that need further development. It can also help you qualify for a role in a specialised field or change careers altogether. This helps you set relevant goals for your new career.

Continuing your education also gives you confidence and exposes you to new challenges. It essentially helps you develop a growth mindset, and this is necessary for your career planning. You might be wary of lifelong learning because of the cost or time involved. Still, there are many ways to get the qualifications you need to progress in your career, from traditional brick and mortar universities to online courses.

Celebrate your achievements 

If you are committed to your career plan and follow the strategies above, you will experience many achievements in your career. Make sure to stop and celebrate them.

Too often, we achieve our goals and swiftly move onto the next one without pausing to reflect or celebrate. After a while, you will question why you have these goals in the first place if you can’t enjoy them. 

Celebrate in whatever way is meaningful to you.