How to Write a Career Development Plan
Creating a career development plan is an important part of maintaining and advancing your career. A career development plan can help you stay organized and focused as you make decisions about your current job and goals for your future. By laying out your strategy for professional growth, you can create a plan of action that will help you get where you want to go.
Steps for Creating A Career Development Plan
- Set Your Goals – Start your career development plan by deciding what you want to achieve. Identify long and short-term goals, and be as specific as possible. For example, a long-term goal could be to earn a management position, while a short-term goal could be to take a course in business management.
- Research Opportunities – After you have established your goals, research the opportunities available to you. Look for courses, seminars, workshops and other forms of continuing education that can help you reach your goals. Also investigate non-education related programs, such as internships, industry organizations and informal networking events.
- Create an Action Plan – Once you have identified your goals and potential opportunities, develop a plan of action to achieve your goals. Outline tasks and timelines, and include ways to measure progress. This will keep you on track as you work towards your goal.
- Get Support – Speak with mentors, colleagues and supervisors to get advice and feedback on your plan. They can help you identify additional resources, give valuable feedback and suggest strategies to keep you motivated.
- Hold Yourself Accountable – Be sure to follow through with your plan and hold yourself accountable for your progress. It can be easy to get distracted, especially with long-term goals. Make sure you track your progress and celebrate even small successes as you work towards your goals.
By following these steps, you can create a successful career development plan that will help you take control of your professional growth. A career development plan can be a great way to identify your goals, research opportunities and create an actionable plan to get you where you want to go.
