Danielle McQueen , 05 February 2007
So just how important is it to have a career plan?  Well when you consider that you will spend around two thirds of your adult life at work, a good plan will help you to focus more clearly on what you need to do to fulfil your career and even life aspirations.

According to workthing.com, there are three main points to consider when putting together your career plan.  They are: working out where you are, what you want, and how you're going to get there.

Think about what you are doing in your current job.  This will help you to be realistic about where you can go from there.  Make a list of all the skills you have learnt, as well as your experience and knowledge.  Listing your strengths and achievements will enable you to get a clearer idea about what you are suited to.  This is very important as it will give you a sense of direction which is essential when implementing a career plan.

Next, think about what you want to achieve in your career.  Setting yourself some realistic goals will help to break down your plan and make it seem more manageable.  It will also give you more motivation and confidence when you are able to see the progression you are making. 

Once you have set your goals then it is useful to do some research about the industry and positions you are interested in.  It is always good to know as much as you can about the type of job you want to go into: certain sectors may not have great prospects for promotion or it may be very difficult to land that dream job.  Research will help you to decide whether or not the career is as desirable as you think it is, and whether you would be well suited to it.

Finally, once you have decided where you want to go in your career you need to find out how to get there.  You may need to gain extra skills or get some work experience in the field.  Research ways of doing this and once you have the necessary qualifications it will be much easier for you to move on in the career you have chosen. 

For more information about the importance of having a career plan, click here