Mapping your career journey helps determine what your professional path may look like. This plan increases the odds of reaching your career goals.
Understanding the types of roles you are interested in and what you want to accomplish in an industry help map your career journey. Having these goals provides motivation for what you want to attain and how you can attain it.
Planning and navigating your path help guide where your career takes you. Although you likely will change course during your journey, having a direction in mind promotes career success.
Follow these guidelines to plan and navigate your career journey.
Identify Your Dream Job
Determine what your ultimate job looks like. Include the industry this job is in, the company’s culture, and how the role benefits the organization.
Talk with professionals working in your dream job and relevant members of your network about the role and industry. Find out what these individuals like and dislike about the position and field. Use your findings to make sure the job and industry are right for you.
Determine the Job Requirements
Understand the education, skills, and experience required for your dream job. Then, create a plan to develop these qualifications. Examples include webinars, online courses, certifications, college degrees, and on-the-job training.
Create Your Timeline
Develop benchmarks to monitor your progress in your career journey. For instance, you may want to reach the next level in your field within the next 3 years.
Break down your career map into small steps and action items you can complete on a monthly basis. Include deadlines to motivate you to complete each action item.
Regularly Review Your Progress
Keep track of your accomplishments along your career journey. Completing steps along your path provides motivation to continue moving forward.
Keep in mind that your progress likely will not be linear. Therefore, you’ll need to make adjustments as you move toward your goal.
Revise your career journey every 6 months to align with where you are and how you want to proceed. Then, you can continue overcoming obstacles as you work toward your dream job.
Do You Want Help with Mapping Your Career Journey?
Partner with ektello for help with planning and navigating your career path. Start by visiting our job board today!
