1. 1
Career Plan
Example#1:
http://www.aie.org/finding-a-career/exploring-your-options/Build-a-Career-Plan.cfm
Career goal:
To become a civil engineer. To design, plan, and supervise the construction of buildings,
highways, and rapid transit systems.
Long-range, general abilities and requirements:
At least a bachelor's degree in engineering
Ability to work as part of a team
Creativity
Analytical thinking skills
Capacity for detail work
Presentation skills
Writing skills
Knowledge of physical sciences and mathematics
Accreditation by licensing board
Current skills, interests, and experiences:
Summer employment with a construction company
High school mathematics courses (geometry, trig, advanced math, calculus)
High school science courses (physics, chemistry)
Experience working within a team (summer employment, school organizations, course
projects)
High school writing courses (four years of English, technical writing)
Top 10% of class
Natural creative ability and organizational skills
Short-term, specific goals to make your dreams a reality:
Graduate in top 10% of high school class
Achieve good test scores
Be accepted to a university with a good engineering program
Keep grades up to meet requirements for School of Engineering
Continue work experience with internship or part-time/summer employment
Participate in campus organizations for engineering students
Earn a bachelor's degree
Consider graduate school
Improve presentation and writing skills by focusing on courses designed to enhance
them
Research license requirements
3. 3
Target Date: 25/05/2014
Date Achieved:__________
Goal:Must be Specific,Measurable,Attainable,Realistic,Relevant,Time Bound
My goal isto become a Branch Manager of the organizationIcurrentlyworkforwithinfive years.[There
are elevenotherbranchesaroundthe country,andI am preparedtomove to anotherlocationif
necessary]
Personal Benefitsfrom AchievingThisGoal: Whydo I really want to achieve this career goal? Be very
specific.
I enjoymanagingpeopleandIlove tobe incontrol and steerthe ship.
The excellentbranchmanagersalaryisalsoveryattractive to me.
I alsohave a desire torunmy ownbusinessone day,andthiswill layanexcellentfoundationforthat.
Possible Obstaclesand Solutionsto the Goal
Obstacle 1: Currentmanagementmaysee myformal managementtrainingtobe insufficient.
Solution1: DiscussthiswithMr. C. and considermanagementtrainingfromInstituteof Management.
Obstacle 2: Not veryproficientatbudgeting/spreadsheets.
Solution2: Inquire aboutnightclass-askMel forsome training.
Obstacle 3: I may have a reputationinthe organizationfornotbeingverygoodat managingconflicts
withstaff.
Solution3: Investigate conflictresolutiontrainingandenroll.Read"GettingtoYes".
Read"How to WinFriendsandInfluence People".
Obstacle 4: Not sure whatMary [mywife] reallythinksaboutthe possibilityof havingtorelocate if Iget
offeredaBranch Manager's positioninanothercity.
Solution4: Have a real talkwithMary aboutthisissue.
StepsRequiredfor AchievingCareerGoal
[eachof these stepswill needatargetdate,date reviewedanddate completedwhichare notshownin
the example belowbutare showninthe sample careerdevelopmentplan download]
1. Arrange time withMr. C.to discusspossible management trainingwithInstituteof Management.
2. Increase presentation/communicationskills.JoinToastmasters.
3. Deepenmycustomerservice training.Read"SecretService"bookandtwoothercustomerservice
booksinthe next18 months.
4. Take nightclassesorsimilarinbudgeting/spreadsheets.AskMel if he can help.
5. Gain more self-confidence aroundpeople.Lose 8kg and enroll ingymmembership.
4. 4
6. Enroll in conflictsresolutiontrainingcourse tohelpdeal withdifficultstaff situations.Read"Gettingto
Yes".Reador listenonaudiobookDale Carnegie'sbestseller"How toWinFriendsandInfluence
People."
7. Organize careerdevelopmentcoachingforone totwomonthseach yearto helpme withthiscareer
developmentplan.Findoutif mycompanywill fundthis.
8. Ask BM if I can run customerservice excellence modulesforCESstaff onmonthlybasistoenhance my
teachingandcustomerservice understanding.[Youreallyonlyknow somethingif youcanteach itto
someone else,he usedtosay] Checkwithhimregardingbudgetforstaff coverduringthese teaching
modules.
9. Discussmy aspirationsandactionstepswithHR manager.(Thisstepmaynot alwaysbe appropriate
dependingonthe nature of yourrelationshipwiththe HRManager or otherappropriate supervisor)
My Career Plan:
CareerGoal:
At thistime,Ido not have a certaincareerin mindthatI know I want to have. I’mstill tryingtofigure
out whatmy “dreamjob” is. I planto complete myundergraduate degree,goontoattain myMBA, and
workand studyin the meantime tofigure outwhatfieldIwanttobe in.I thinkI maywant to workin
social mediamarketing,butit’sstill somethingIneedtofigure outforcertain.
Today’sDate: 09/29/13
Date Achieved:__/__/__
Self-Assessment
Interests:
Reading,writing,social media, relationships,travel
ValuesandSkills:
Honesty,loyalty,relationships
Organized,reliable,andambitious
Leadership,time-management,creativity
Recognitionandopportunityforgrowthandachievement
Experience:
CustomerService
Staffinginternship - sales,cold-calling,recruiting
Student-athlete–constantbalance of school,workand sports
My Goals(Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Bound)
Short Term(< 1 year):
Passall Fall 2013 coursesat Southwestern
Improve andpolishresume,coverletter,andinterview skills
5. 5
Complete undergradinDecember2013 with4.0
Enroll inMaster’s programcoursesto begininJanuary2014
Buildworkexperience withpart-timejoborinternshipwhilecompletingthe Master’sprogram
Searchthrough andapplyfor potential jobsoncareer-seekingwebsites
Mid Term (1-5 years):
Graduate withMaster’s degree inBusinessAdministrationatSouthwesternCollege December
2014
Developmypersonal brandwhilestrengtheningmyLinkedInprofile
Network,network,network! Make connectionstolasta lifetime,becauseit’snotwhatyou
knowbut whoyouknow.
Work at a full-time jobthatallowsopportunitiesforgrowthaswell ashelpsme refine exactly
whatfieldof workI wantto be infor the restof my life
Attainpromotionsandraisesatthat jobto reach the top
Long Term(> 5 years):
Achieve managementposition
Finallybe happyatthe job I have alwayswantedandworkuntil Ican retire richand live happily
everafterwithmyfamily
ActionPlan
The plan isto finishmyeducationfirst.Thisincludesmyundergraduate degree andgraduate degree to
give me a competitive edge. WhileI’mworkingtowardcompletingmyMBA,I want to have a jobthat
buildsupmy work experience soIcan become more qualifiedforcareeropportunitiesthatinterestme
aftergrad school. From that job,I wantto hopefullygetmore of an ideaof where exactlyIwantto be.
Once I findthe absolute jobIwant,I will workmyway to the top. Throughall of thisI alsoplanto build
connectionsbynetworkingwithpeople whocanhelpme alongthe way.
Assessmentof SampleCareer Plans:
I wasn’tquite sure whatI shouldhave beenlookingforwhenIbegansearchingforexamplesof
model careerplans. However,afterawhile Irealizedthere wasn’treallyadefinite formatoroutline for
it. Althoughtheyall lookdifferent,Inoticedthe careerplanssimplydefinedthe pathyouplanto take to
attainyour dreamcareer. It soundedsimple enough,butitwasdifficultforme because I’mstill notsure
exactlywhatcareerI want. Because of this,Ichose three differentexamplesthatgave me different
ideasof howto try to figure itout.
The firstexample of acareer planwassimple and to the point. I likedthe waythisplancut
straightto the goal insteadof beatingaroundwhatthe writerwasreallytryingtosay. Itgave some
slightlyspecificgoals,butthe majorityof themweren’tasdetailedastheycouldhave been. Ithinkin
6. 6
orderto have a goodgoal you needtobe able to know whenyouhave reachedit. Otherwise,howdo
youknowwhenyouhave beensuccessful? A lotof the career plansIfoundmentionedthe
recommendationtohave S.M.A.R.T.goals(specific,measurable,attainable,relevant,time bound). In
thissample careerplanthe goalslackedthe abilitytomeasured,andthatwassomethingIdidn’texactly
like.
I chose the secondcareerplan example because itwaseye-catching. Ilike everythingtobe neat
and inorder,and thisplanlookedveryorganizedrightfromthe start. I likedthe wayeachgoal area had
itsown sectionanddetails. Ireallylikedthe waythisparticularexample separatedcurrentskillsand
skillsthatwill be neededandhave tobe developed inordertoattainfuture goalsand jobs. I wasalsoa
fan of howthe writerlistedtheirownvaluesandpreferences. Ihadn’tthoughtlistingmyskillsand
valueswouldbe necessaryfordevelopingmycareerplan,butthenI realizedtheygohandinhand. This
example pointedouttome howimportantyourskillsare toyour careerplan. If youdon’thave the skills
youneedforyour desiredcareer,itcertainlyhelpsyourealizewhatyouneedtoworkon toget there.
The last careerplanexample Isharedinterestedme because of how detaileditwas. The other
modelsIchose were eitherbulletedorshorterstatementsthatexplainedwhatneededtobe said. In
contrast,the thirdexample gave lengthyparagraphstoreallydetailthe goalsof the careerplan. I also
likedthe listingof “Date Achieved”onthiscareerplan. Itmakesyou realize how real accomplishingthis
goal is and,in a way,inspire youtoget itdone so youcan add the date. I thoughtitwas interestinghow
thisgoal listedobstacles intheircareerplan. Of course a careerplanincludessmall goalsthatleadto
your ultimate goal,butitisverylikelythatsomethingcouldgetinyourway. I thoughtit seemedlike a
goodideato be preparedbyacknowledgingthesepotentialproblems aheadof time.
All of the example model careerplansIfoundwere fairlysimilar,buttheystill hadtheir
differences. Ifelttheyeachbroughtdifferentideasthathelpedme worktocreate my ideal careerplan.
I wishI knewexactlywhatjobIwanted soI couldmake a more detailedgoal listformyself. It’smyhope
7. 7
to figure itoutsoon sothat I can give myself attainablegoalstoreachthe ultimate successIwantin my
future career.
