This document provides guidance on developing an effective career plan. It recommends asking yourself questions about your current career interests and how they align with personal goals. The first step is to create an overall career objective, then establish specific and measurable goals using the SMART method. Developing a written career plan can help identify the path needed to pursue your chosen career. It's important to stay motivated by keeping track of progress, setting reminders, making yourself accountable to others, prioritizing goals, and rewarding accomplishments. The overall process may require flexibility and adjusting your plan over time.

1. CAREER PLANNING
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2. Why Develop a Career Plan?
 While there are no shortcuts to finding a new career, creating a career plan can
make the process manageable.
 By developing a career plan, you'll be able to set clear goals for yourself and follow
your progress as you work toward a career objective.

3. Below are some questions to ask yourself as you begin thinking
about your career plan:
What are my current career interests?
How does my career interests align with my personal
goals?
Where do I see myself in five years?

4. Developing a Career Objective:
Creating an overall career objective is the first step in
creating a career plan.
A strong objective will allow you to focus on what you
really want to achieve in your career. Keep in mind
while planning, that objectives will vary based on your
individual needs and desires.

5. Reaching Your Objective
It's important to remember that there is no single path to reaching your
career objective. The process might simply take longer or be more
complicated than you originally planned.
You may find that you need assistance to reach your career goal .
Whatever your situation, remain flexible and don't be afraid to adjust your
plan or even create an entirely new career objective.

6. Setting Career Goals
Setting definite career goals
will help you stay on track
as you progress toward
your career objective
While it's important to set
meaningful career goals,
you might become
discouraged if these goals
are too difficult to achieve.
Try using the S.M.A.R.T. goal
method to help you create
realistic and attainable
career goals.

7. Setting Career Goals Continued;

8. Creating a Career Plan
Once you have created a career objective and have formulated your career
goals, you should have a clearer idea of the career path you want to follow.
Drafting a career plan will help you figure out exactly what you need to
pursue your chosen career..

9. Staying Motivated
Keep a journal of your
progress. Record the
ups and downs you
experience. Reflecting
on your thoughts and
feelings will help you
overcome difficulties
and realize how much
you are
accomplishing.
Stay focused. Life can
be distracting, so find
a way to remind
yourself of your goals
on a daily or weekly
basis. You can post
encouraging notes on
the refrigerator, say
daily affirmations in
the mirror, or set
reminders on your
mobile phone.
Use technology. There
are various websites
and apps for your
mobile phone that you
can use to set goals
and keep yourself on
track. Some good
websites include
Goalmigo, StickK, and
GoalsOnTrack. Any.do
and Wunderlist are
good mobile apps that
you can use to track
goals.
Make yourself
accountable. Tell
friends and family
members about your
plan so they can help
you by asking about
your progress toward
your goals.

10. Staying Motivated Continued;
Prioritize.
Sometimes having
too many goals
can be
overwhelming.
Decide which goals
are most important
and make those
goals your priority.
Adjust your goals.
If things are not
working out the
way you thought,
don't give up.
Simply reassess
and adjust your
plan as needed.
Success is often a
process of finding
out what works
and what doesn't.
Reward yourself.
Meeting a goal
feels good and
should be
celebrated.
Whether it is a
small treat or a big
party, rewarding
yourself will boost
your motivation.

11. Get Set, Get Ready, Create a Career Plan!!!
o Its time to complete your
career interest survey.
o Gather your thoughts,
identify your career goals,
and ask yourself the
important questions.
o Then create your career
plan!!!