Once you have researched and chosen a career direction, it's time for the third step of the career planning process. By developing an Individual Career Plan, you can focus on what you want to do and decide specifically how to get there. An individual career plan usually has two major parts - activities and timelines. First, write down what your career goal / objective is, then list the activities you must do to get from where you are now to where you will be when you reach your goal. Give yourself deadlines for when you want to do each step. Remember to make these deadlines reasonable - but don't give yourself so much time that you get sidetracked or too little time to realistically accomplish your goal. Be sure to check your plan often as a reminder, and you may also want to share the plan with a friend, co-worker, or family member. This process can provide some accountability for you as you move towards your chosen occupation.
Once you have determined what career path you want to follow, decide what you need to do to prepare for that career. Do you need special training? If so, research the schools that offer the kind of training you need. What kinds of experience will you need to be successful in the career? If so, research internships or work experiences. What kind of rŽsumŽ should you be developing? Are your job seeking skills as refined as they should be? And finally, where will you find that job you are looking for?
Career Plan
The following websites will give you a good starting point for developing an Individual Career Plan:
