Navigating one’s career path is always a journey, and it is one that more often than not never really comes to an end. There are the standard bumps in the road – like resume fine tuning and the recruitment process, and then there are the more complicated challenges like having to readjust career paths and goals in the case that the initial plan does not work out. No matter which way the cookie crumbles, a person’s career is one of the most prominent parts of their development. We spend so much of our time and energy investing in and growing our careers, and yet too often there are those among us that feel lost in their professional lives. Regardless of if an individual’s chosen field is medicine, business, education, or any and all fields in between, there is always value in having a strategy and goals for your career path. In this new era of straddling the transition between traditional workplaces and a tech-driven workforce, having a career plan is more valuable than ever. In a changing workforce landscape, having structure and goals can only be a positive reinforcement for individuals and their careers.
Change is a constant certainty in all aspects of life, and the workforce is no different. On average, an individual tends to change their career and resume anywhere between five to seven times in their lifetime. While there are many potential factors that could contribute to or cause this many career changes, one thing that often contributes most is lack of direction. This is not necessarily a negative thing, but more an observation of the workforce in action. When individuals are not entirely sure of their professional goals, it is difficult to have a specific direction to pivot towards professionally. As a result, individuals sometimes find themselves bouncing between differing jobs, trying to find one that makes them happy and fits in with their preferred lifestyle – not an easy task. Figuring out one’s career path is nearly always a time-consuming, tumultuous task. From working on one’s resume, to going through the recruitment process over and over until they find the perfect fit and it sticks. While it can be difficult to crawl out of the confusion after a while, having set goals and ideals in motion for career success can make the world of difference, and often does.
Planning one’s career is, in many ways, like taking a hike through the mountains. There are unexpected challenges and highs and lows, but the ultimate goal is always to get where you want to be. First and foremost, individuals must have a clear, absolute understanding of who they are. Without this basic understanding, it is near impossible to know what you want in any given stage or area of life, let alone one that is so demanding and monumental. With this self-respect and understanding, individuals can set out their future career goals; these goals are the lifeblood of one’s professional life, and they are the driving force that continue to motivate and inspire, even when those pesky bumps in the road come along. And finally, a goal is useless without an active plan that allows one to achieve that goal. Career-driven individuals are only as successful as they ability to adapt and overcome in the face of adversity. There will undoubtedly be challenges that seem too difficult to surpass. That is where the plan comes in handy the most. With an active plan in motion, one can prove that they have a strong understanding of the adapting workforce they are currently navigating, as well as a drive to succeed even if achieving that success means deviating from Plan A and moving Plan B into motion.
Taking ownership and holding oneself accountable for the state and progression of their career can be a difficult skill to master. The workforce of today is an entirely different landscape than the one that existed even ten years ago. Technological advancement, digitisation, and continuous revolutions have been partially responsible for the shifting landscape of the modern-day workforce. We are sitting on the verge of an evolution that is set to change everything – the workforce included. For this reason, it is more important than ever that the professionals of today – and all those who follow from here on out – are aware of, and adhere to, a career plan for themselves. It was difficult enough in the past to navigate the traditional workplace, but existing and having to find one’s way through a workforce that is adapting and shifting to realign with new global innovations (like technology and digitisation) is an unforeseen game entirely. The professionals of today must consider not only the current workforce they exist in, but the way that workforce is changing. A career plan is the single most useful tool that any given professional can have in their career arsenal.
In this changing landscape, practically the entire world is going through a digital metamorphosis of sorts, and the workforce is not immune to this wave of innovation and evolution. Now more than ever, individuals must take complete control of their career paths and actively pursue their professional dreams and goals. Success is not an overnight job, but rather a long journey that takes years (potentially a lifetime) to shape. Having a career plan is often the difference between engaging success and just missing the mark when it comes to professional development and milestones. As well as having a keen understanding of who you are and what you want from the future, it is important to have goals and an active pathway to achieving those goals. When a career forges such a substantial part of our lives, it only makes sense to put in the world to ensure that said career gets you where you want to go and gives you what you need from life.