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Many people lack a career development plan or professional development track. Perhaps you've just started your job, you are a student fresh out of college, or you have your ideal career in hand. No matter what your situation, everyone can benefit from career growth, but how do you construct a plan? Before we discuss those steps, let's first define career development.

WHAT IS CAREER DEVELOPMENT?

Career development is a system of finding your footing in your career. This involves determining where you are in life versus where you desire to go and creating a plan to help you get there. Career development does not start after finding a job after college; it should (and can) progressively be a step you take during college. Because career development is a process, you shouldn't immediately find a job after college.

TYPES OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Your career development journey doesn't end after securing your very first job. It is an ongoing process that must be refined and redefined over time. Here are some steps you can take to succeed in your career in the long run.

Self-awareness. Identify your needs. Think about your preferences and strengths, and figure out where you want to develop yourself further and what areas you should focus on. Look at what you do best, and find a career path that matches it.

Goal setting. Set a series of short-term goals that will get you closer to your long-term goal. This is where you ll find information about various industries and organizations and develop a plan to obtain them. This is also where you will participate in career exploration and career identification.

Training and Learning. Develop the skills and abilities you need to fulfill your career objectives, whether participating in leadership training, attending webinars, or tackling an internship to build your skill set.

WHY IS CAREER DEVELOPMENT IMPORTANT?

Career development can help you stand out in front of employers, compete in today's job market, and grow within a company. The process of career development is just as crucial for students as it is for those currently in the workforce. As a college student, these plans help you make informed decisions about your major, courses, organizations you get involved in, and internships you pursue.

If you want to be successful in your career, you must have a plan for your development. Without a plan, you could stagnate your career or make the wrong choices. Having a career development plan will save you time and effort in the long run.

STEPS TO CREATE A CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Preparation and goal-setting are the building blocks of crafting a profession you love. Here are some basic building blocks for a robust career development strategy.

STEP 1: CONDUCT A SELF-ASSESSMENT

We spend a substantial part of our lives on work. You want to find a job that makes you eager to get up in the morning and go to work. Not only will finding a job you love to improve your quality of life, but you'll be more motivated to excel at it.

Reconsider your current state, values, interests, past experiences, and skills. Consider how your assets can benefit you combined with your areas of interest in your career.

What do you want your career to look like in five to 10 years? Consider how the jobs you're considering match up with that vision. Weigh the pros and cons of each position, taking into account factors such as work-life balance, compensation versus fulfillment, industry culture and environment, required education, location, and opportunities for long-term growth. Then use that information to help you determine your next steps and the overall career path you want to take.

STEP 2: DO RESEARCH AND GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE

Once you've completed your self-assessment, it's time to start exploring which industries may be the best fit for you. Conducting research, taking courses, building your network, and talking to people in different professions are great ways to get started. Trustworthy advice from professionals can help you make the best decision for your career.

One of the best ways to tell if an industry is right for you is to get hands-on experience. Volunteering, part-time jobs, and internship programs are great opportunities to determine if the job or degree you're pursuing aligns with your self-assessment.

If you want to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy, it's a good idea to volunteer to shadow a physical therapist. This way, you can get a feel for the work and see if it's really what you want to do.

Knowing that every experience counts and helps sharpen your soft skills is essential. These skills can be applied to future opportunities, even if the job title or industry isn't relevant.

If you were captain of your volleyball team but decided going pro isn't for you, the communication, organizational, and leadership skills you gained through that experience can still be applied to your job as a bank teller, for instance. Employers highly value these skills and can help you stand out from the competition.

STEP 3: ESTABLISH YOUR END GOAL AND LOOK FOR GAPS

Once you've chosen the career you want to pursue, it's time to analyze how it aligns with your current experience, skills, and values. This comparison will give you a clear picture of what you need to accomplish to reach your end goal. With this information in hand, you can make a plan to get the experience and skills you need to make your dream career a reality.

Talk with your advisor, mentor, or supervisor to better understand what’s required of the role. Compile a list of areas where you have developmental gaps and categorize the skills, experiences, and certifications needed to fill those gaps and continue to grow. Doing this will help you to identify your development goals and continue to grow in your role.

STEP 4: SET CAREER DEVELOPMENT GOALS

After you identify your long-term goal and developmental gaps, list short-term goals and tasks you need to accomplish; breaking your plan into smaller, more achievable milestones can help make the process less overwhelming. Goal-setting techniques like the SMART goal strategy can be helpful in this process.

There are also many other types of goal-setting techniques that you can use to your advantage to find success in your personal and professional life. How you set your goals and find the technique that works for you is critical to future long-term success. Trustworthy advice can be found below to help you get started.

STEP 5: EVALUATE, ADJUST, REPEAT

Regularly check the progress you’ve made on your career development plan and make time to celebrate certain milestones. Along with tracking your progress, you want to make sure you’re adjusting your goals as needed. Remember, things in life change unexpectedly. Don’t be afraid to re-evaluate and change your tasks, timelines, and short- and long-term goals.

TOP CAREER DEVELOPMENT TIPS

Creating a career development plan takes careful preparation and, even more importantly, follow-through. Though everyone’s journey is unique, there are a few tips that everyone can utilize:

Hone your communication skills. The biggest issues in any organization almost always result from a communication breakdown. While technical skills are required for many jobs, both written and verbal communication are some of the most important skills. Personal communication skills are fundamental to a successful career in any industry.

Here are a few more ways you can develop your communication skills:

- Use your school’s resources
- Take on a leadership role in an organization
- Practice communicating in a clear, simple, and direct way
- Become a member of a club, honor society, or sports team
- Look for opportunities to network and build relationships with people

Be intentional and take initiative. Career development is a critical part of progressing on your professional track. With the daily demands of work and a busy life outside of the office, it can be easy for these plans to get crowded out of your schedule.

Don’t wait for others to give you instructions on how to progress in your career. Take initiative and be strategic about your growth. Dedicate time in your schedule to pave your way in the workforce.

Invest in learning opportunities. One of the best ways to continue growing in your career is to constantly absorb new information. Do research, take courses, listen to podcasts, read career development books, and more. You can also earn digital badges for completing certain programs so hiring managers can immediately identify the desired skills and effort someone has put in beyond formal education.

Build your network.

Building relationships is a critical part of your career development journey. Networking opens the door to many different experiences and opportunities you may not have even been aware of. Plus, having a group of people that are invested in your growth is a great way to keep the momentum going in your career development.

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