Are You Planning Your Career or Just Going wth the Flow?

Are you planning your career or have you decided to just go with the flow? Career planning is a continuous process where you decide in advance how, when, and where to take specific actions that lead you closer to your desired destination.

Here’s the first step of the Career Guidance Process I use with clients. The intent is to explore your career goals, strengths, and areas of opportunity.

Step One:
Begin with what I call CareerScaping. Dream about the contributions and accomplishments you wish to achieve while simultaneously fulfilling your purpose in life. Look to what you enjoy doing for important clues and give thought to the following questions:

1. When you daydream, what do you see yourself doing?


2. If you had unlimited time and resources, what would you choose to do?


3. Which work life activities do you consider to be the most valuable?


4. Which personal life activities do you consider to be the most valuable?


5. What talents do you have?


6. Are there particular things you feel you should do even though you haven’t yet? What are they?


7. What functional areas interest you (i.e. sales, operations, finance, technical, management)?


8. Do you have a specific job in mind? What is it?


9. What skills, training or additional education will you need for that job?


10. Who can help you find out more information?

Remember, career planning is a continuous process so whether you’re 18 or 80, the previous questions still apply. The answers shape your future. Where do you want to go?