The graphic above is dynamic in that the arrows are always going both ways, like life, the career journey is not a straight line from start to finish. We continue to learn and grow throughout our lives. Don’t worry if you’re not sure what you want to do, or if you change your mind! You can start anywhere on the wheel above and you will still come around to where you need to be.
Having said that…you should also understand that the career planning process requires you to get familiar with yourself and what might be a good fit for you and research career options that fit your skills and personality. Once you have an idea of what you might like to do, the next steps are to confirm your interest by reaching out to folks in that field. Finally, you will want to consider how to get the education/training for the your field of interest.
Research
Self-Evaluation
The first step in the career planning process is to figure out who you are and what types of work are a good fit for you.
Career Exploration
The next step is to explore career options and research occupations.
Confirm
Informational Interviewing and Job Shadowing
The purpose of Informational Interviews is to learn about occupations you are interested in from professionals working in those jobs. An informational interview is not a job interview. Another way to learn about a job is to shadow someone who is working in the field. Both are a great way to get the inside scoop and develop network connections that could help you in the future.
Plan
Think about Education and Training Options
There are a number of ways to get the skills and experience you need, become familiar with the paths available to you.
DIY Career AKA as Entrepreneurship
Maybe you want to work for yourself, if so you learn more about Entrepreneurship by following the link above.