Employment

Career Management: Career Planning

Career planning can be of benefit to everyone from the recent college graduate to the high-powered executive. Most of us want to move forward in our careers; few want to stay in the same position for the rest of their lives. Judicious and continuous career planning will help you down this road.

How Does Career Planning Benefit Me?
If you are just starting out in your career, a well-thought out plan should outline where to start, where you want to be and all the necessary stops along the way. During an interview, many employers ask where you want to be in five years. Knowing this in advance shows them you are organized and serious enough to set goals for yourself. It also gives you direction so you waste little time with jobs and activities that do not contribute to your career aspirations.

But even if you have been in the workforce for twenty years, career planning can give you the push you need to get ahead. At some juncture in their careers, some people feel like they have topped out and have nowhere else to go. This commonly results in boredom and lack of motivation. A little careful strategizing can help define how to overcome the obstacles standing in your way of career advancement.

Developing a career plan on your own is no easy task. A career counselor can help you set short and long term goals and devise a course of action. However, a counselor cannot make choices for you. It is up to you to decide whom you really want to be when you grow up.