Requisites of Effective Career Planning

Career planning is an extremely crucial but an overwhelming task. This is a step that is often skipped by most of the people in their professional lives. Planning your career means that you are not leaving things to chance but taking control of your career journey.

Career planning can help you in the following ways:

• Save time and energy: Career planning helps you avoid going after a profession that does not align with personal goals and abilities. The earlier you plan, the better it is.
• Figure out your goals: It becomes easier to figure out personal objectives and goals through career planning. It is always better to chase your goals instead of working aimlessly.
• Focus: You will be able to determine a clear path to follow with the help of career planning. It helps you avoid feeling lost and lets you focus on the right aspects.
• Make confident choices: Career planning puts you in the driver’s seat in your career journey and lets you make confident choices for your future endeavors.

Tips for career planning

Find a mentor: Find a mentor or a coach within your network. It can make a huge difference to your career in the long run. You can also take help of a professional counselor.

Keep options open: If you do not find a desired role or company in your city, be open to exploring other geographies.

Keep updated: Career planning is a lifelong process. So, keep reviewing your plan and update it as per the changing market.

Network: Connect with professionals within your network. Getting someone’s support and advice can speed up the process and broaden your perspective.

Be realistic: Keep in mind your personal circumstances and available resources.

Switch career: It is never too late to start over. No matter how old you are, if you are not happy with your current profession, do not hesitate to switch.

To ensure successful career planning, a number of steps should be taken, these include:

Goals: The corporate goals must be laid down clearly in terms of career development opportunities in the organization.

Support: Career planning efforts must receive consistent support, commitment and assistance from the top management of the organization.

Placement: Every effort must be made to put employees on jobs that are in tune with their capabilities. If a talented employee is put on the routine job, he will quit in frustration.

Reward-performance: Employees must be willing to expand their abilities, trainers must be willing to coach, counsel and share their knowledge with the employees. There must be appropriate rewards for people from both sides who show promise.

Career Paths: The career paths for different types of employees must be laid down clearly. First the organization should track promotions for talented employees, seniors could be used on jobs requiring experience and judgement, juniors could be used for jobs that demand routine application of rules and procedures etc.

Continuous Tracking: Career planning efforts should be carried out on a continuing basis keeping the changing needs of the employees and the organization in mind. A record of career movements of employees could be generated and maintained by the effective use and implementation of a HRIS.

Publicity: Everyone should be aware of the career opportunities within the organization.