Techgue | Who doesn't dream of having a brilliant career in the future. Of course you also want to make this dream come true, right? So, you need to plan your future career as early as possible to achieve success in your professional life. Career planning should be considered seriously even when you are still in high school.
You need to have a mature plan regarding the career life you want to live in the future. It doesn't matter if you are already working because you can still plan your career for better opportunities in your future. The question is, how do you plan your career carefully and implement the plans you have made? Just read this article to answer your curiosity.
Get to Know What Career Planning is
Career planning is the process of determining the career path you want to achieve and concrete steps to make it happen. In this process, you will set short, medium and long term career goals, then determine the steps you need to take to achieve these goals.
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So, when should you start planning your career? Planning for a future career needs to start long before looking for a job, specifically in the last year of high school or the start of college. At this age, you can think about the type of job or career you are interested in. You can take courses, internships, certification programs, or virtual work experience to better understand the job you want.
Career planning is not just done once, but throughout your career life. You can evaluate your current career position and future goals periodically. Evaluation is very useful so that you can adjust your plans to achieve the career goals you have set or move on to new goals.
The Importance of Career Planning for a Successful Future
How important is career planning for the future? Very important because you can avoid uncertainty in achieving career goals. Try to imagine someone who has no career plan and simply accepts the job offers they are given without considering better opportunities. When he is bored with his work, the person just considers it a fact of life and does not think about solutions.
Work plays an important role in everyday life. A career plan will help you make strategic decisions and assess opportunities based on their benefits to long-term goals. Apart from that, a career plan can eliminate distractions that could hinder you so you can focus more on achieving your goals. Finally, a career plan can also determine the skills that need to be mastered and are certainly relevant to career goals.
Future Career Planning Steps that Need to be Taken
When discussing the future, there are many things to consider, especially career planning. For those of you who want to achieve your dream career goals, there are several steps you can take. So, here are some steps in career planning that can help prepare you for a better future.
1. Determine career goals
Not a few teenagers are confused about choosing their career goals. In fact, determining career goals can start from recognizing your interests, talents and strengths. After that, you need to identify the short and long term career goals you want to achieve.
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Also consider other aspects such as enjoyment of work, values you want to realize, and lifestyle. After setting career goals, then you can design a specific and measurable plan to make it easier to achieve them. Career goals will only be dreams that are difficult to achieve without good planning.
2. Search for Information and Resources
What information is needed in career planning? You can search for information about trends and needs in your chosen work industry as well as the qualifications and job requirements needed.
Use the resources available to help you obtain this information, from mentors, career websites, or professional organizations that can provide insight and support for you. This information is very useful so that you can prepare yourself better to face competition in the world of work.
3. Improve Qualifications and Skills
So that your career planning becomes more mature, equip yourself with the necessary qualifications and skills. You must have identified your qualification needs in the previous step. Now, you just need to look for opportunities to improve your qualifications and skills.
For example, you took a certified course or training or have relevant internship experience. Continue learning and developing in your career because the world of work is always changing and becoming more competitive.
Implementing the Career Plan That Has Been Prepared
The career plans you have made will not come true if you do not take action steps to implement them. How do you realize the career plans you have made? Just follow the two simple steps below.
1. Look for a suitable job
You just need to look for a job that suits your career goals and required qualifications. Take advantage of resources and networks to find job opportunities. You can also plan effective strategies for applying for jobs, for example creating a portfolio or practicing interviews with a mentor.
Before applying for a job, check the job requirements to match your qualifications and skills. Make a job application document in the form of a CV and portfolio that is good and reflects your potential and competence. The chances of getting a suitable job are greater if you follow these steps.
2. Building a Professional Network and Reputation
This step is also very important to increase your chances of achieving your career goals. Try to build relationships and networks with people in the work industry you want to work in. You can start from high school and college friends, family, or work colleagues. Also take advantage of social media and professional platforms to build your reputation, aka self-branding and expand your network.
Also Read : Characteristics of Professionalism that You Need to Know in Your Career
However, do research first about the company you want to contact and target for your relationship. You will have a clearer picture of the industry and the career opportunities available. Give a positive impression and show the expertise and skills you have to get the attention of your target company.
In short, future career planning needs to be designed early on. In achieving career goals, technical skills or hard skills are not the only way to achieve success. You also have to master non-technical skills or soft skills such as communication skills, collaboration and flexibility.