Career Planning - Are You Following a Planned Career Path or Simply a Series of Jobs?

Successfully managing your own career is critical forplanning, to carefully make choices, as initial decisions
your financial and personal well being. Yet it is rarelycan have a major impact on longer term career
pursued on a strategic or informed basis. Careersuccess and ultimately, happiness.
planning, particularly in the technology field, is moreMid-stage career planning and effort usually reflects
and more the responsibility of the individual.the initial experiences and jobs one has had with his
Particularly, since most people today end up workingor her early career. It generally is an extension of
for many employers. The overall basis for morethat experience. At this stage, there may be a
successful career management includes developingthread of a career track, but job moves and
career plans that are applicable at different stages inknowledge growth during this phase that are not well
your career.planned or executed can result in important limits to
Although living in the information age, there is fewcareer-growth.
comprehensive career information and planningLate-stage career planning frequently results from
resources available online. Exploring career versus jobthe need to find the right position in one's career
information is more readily available once you haveafter an early retirement or a reduction in force.
focused on a career path, such as technology orCareer choices at this stage generally reflect more
even further, within a specific industry. Career trainingentrepreneurial, part time, or flexible working
in college consists largely on how to interview andarrangements. This is when traditional employment
write a resume. There seems to be limited formallimitations as well as long developed interests come
training programs available about career choices.more into focus.
When employed the employer generally providesCareer planning at each stage of a person's working
training, successive jobs, and a defined career laddercareer can best be analyzed by considering the
to the degree that it unites with the organization'sfollowing: (1) Take stock of your career. Define your
needs and objectives. Career coaches mainly workcareer and objectives at regular intervals preferably
via large employers and focus on building leadershipat least once a year. Do it in writing. (2) Research
skills, not generally on developing career plans.and identify possible career options that could meet
Outplacement counselors generally help people focusthose career objectives. (3) Evaluate your skills,
on job searches rather than career plans. Recruiterspersonality, training and experience. Develop a plan so
are looking to fill job positions with top candidates foryou can pursue your career objectives. (4) Make a
employers who are their clients and normally do notdecision as to which career options are the best. Build
provide career planning services for individuals.a plan in the near, medium and long term to reach
We can generally fit career planning as having threeyour career objectives. (5) Be flexible as you monitor
major phases: early stage from ages 16 to 33;your progress. Refine the plan, challenge yourself.
middle, from 34 to 52; and later, beyond 53. ManyIt's critical for you to invest in career planning during
times, early career choices are highly influenced byeach stage of a successful career for short-,
parents, relatives, teachers or close friends. Themedium-and long-term achievement. Ask yourself, are
choices of technical schools, colleges or graduateyou following a well defined career roadmap or simply
schools, as well as majors, begin to focus interestsworking a succession of jobs? If you said yes to the
for career paths.latter, it's never to late to get started.
It is important, in the early stages of a career