Feeling lost or stagnant in your own career? You're not alone. Many people lack a clear direction, unsure how to leverage their strengths and interests. But unlike a confusing map, your career path doesn't need to be rigid. You can navigate it strategically with a career plan.
Jessyca K. is a human resource professional with 10+ years of experience in roles ranging from Talent Acquisition Lead, Human Resources Manager, and, currently, Talent Management. She thrives from partnering with customers to solve business problems and is passionate about how these solutions impact people's lives. Check out her tips on developing your career.
Step 1: Reflection
Just like exploring a new city, you need to understand your starting point before venturing out. Reflection helps you gather your thoughts and gain clarity on:
- Values: What's important to you in your work?
- Interests: What topics or areas of the business draw you in?
- Skills: What technical and soft skills do you possess? Skills are transferrable, how can you use them in different areas or roles?
- Strengths: What are you naturally good at?
- Development Opportunities: Are there skills you'd like to acquire to reach your goals?
Reflecting on Alignment:
Your career path should complement your life. Consider:
- Purpose: What impact do you want to make with your work?
- Priorities: Work-life balance, compensation, or a specific work environment?
- Personal Circumstances: Family obligations, commute time, or relocation needs.
Step 2: Explore
After you’ve taken some time to REFLECT on your skills, abilities, and aspirations – take those notes and explore a variety of development opportunities. There are three main ways we learn and develop – read about them here. Some examples are taking on a stretch assignment to strengthen a skill, identifying a mentor in a different area of the business or mentoring another employee to enhance leadership skills.
Step 3: Plan
A common question asked in career discussions is, "Where do you want to be in your career in 5, 10 or 15 years?" Would this question give you pause? Remember, you own your career! Career planning puts you in charge as you prepare for the future by identifying the necessary skills needed to navigate your career journey, whether your aspirations are to increase your performance and impact in your current role or to explore other potential roles.
- Now that you have reflected on your current situation and explored the opportunities to develop, it’s time to connect both and identify your focus areas.
- Consider your desired outcomes, such as a promotion or a new skill, to create development objectives like completing a leadership course or improving your technical skills.
- Be specific about determining actions, such as attending training sessions or taking on new projects, and success indicators, like receiving positive feedback or achieving specific performance metrics.
- Once you have a plan, it's important to share it with a leader, mentor, or peer for their input. This not only shows your commitment to your development but also allows others to understand and support your goals. In your plan, commit to reasonable next steps and a timeline to check in, ensuring that your career planning is a collaborative and valued process.
Step 4: Act
- Initiate and experiment
- Ask for feedback
- Evaluate outcomes and adjust as needed
- Remember, it’s a journey, the cycle is continuous
Now that you know the steps to building a strategic career plan, get ready to put them to use! Find open roles with Team Caterpillar.
