What are your career goals? Do you know how you are going to get there? For some, your goals might seem far away, or you might not be sure how to achieve them. If you are seeking new employment opportunities or you are wanting career advancement, the first step in meeting your career goals is through career development.
Career development is the plan an individual makes in order to reach their ultimate long-term career goals. It involves choosing an occupation and developing a plan of the steps it will take you to get to that occupation. It is a plan for temporary and long-term self-reliance.
Why Is Career Development Important?
Career development opens the door for you to achieve your career goals. Planning in this way will help you to stay motivated and proactive in your career. With a career plan in mind, you can work with your manager to develop the skills you need to achieve your goals.
What Does Career Development Look Like?
Career development looks different from person to person, but no matter what your goals are, there are four career elements that you should consider when making your career plan.
1. Career Objective with a Desired Income Target
The first step of career development is to identify the career you would like to pursue and determine if that career choice is practical and based on your interests and abilities. Your career choice should also meet your financial needs. Determine the income level required to meet your family’s financial obligations and develop a spending plan if one is not in place. Ask yourself the following questions as you determine your career objective and financial needs:
- What are your natural skills and abilities?
- How has your work history utilized these skills and abilities?
- If training, education, and experience didn’t matter, what would you like to do for a living? Are you interested in learning how to do that?
- Do you have a current spending plan?
- How much additional income would be required for you to live within your current spending plan?
- Is your desired career one that is in demand or decline?
- Does your career choice typically produce the income required by your spending plan?
If you need help with identifying a career objective or developing a spending plan, contact your local Church leaders or Employment Services for help.
Consider this: If you are not making enough money, you may want to develop a spending plan instead of finding new employment. Maybe you have financially overextended yourself. By selling unnecessary assets, reducing expenses, or canceling unnecessary services, you might be better able to live within your means. Refer to the “Personal Finances” self-reliance group for more guidance on your personal finances.
2. Determine Short- and Long-Term Needs
The next step of career development is identifying how to achieve your established career objective and overcome any possible obstacles. Identify the specific steps required to reach your career objective; circumstances that have been, or might become, obstacles in meeting your career objective (for example, lack of childcare or transportation); and other unexpected obstacles. To determine your immediate and long-term needs to reach your career goals, ask yourself the following questions:
- Will training or education be required to reach your career objective?
- How long will it take to obtain the required training?
- How have you typically found employment in the past?
- Who do you know in your desired career field?
- Do you feel comfortable discussing your career objective with others?
- Do you have a current resume? How effective is your resume in obtaining interviews?
Each of these needs should be included as future actions in your career development plan. For help seeking additional training or education, first seek help from your local Church leaders. If you need educational funding to reach your career goal, turn to community resources for financial assistance.
3. Find Local Resources That Can Help
The third step of career development is finding resources. A resource is something or someone that can be used to support or help you reach your career objective or other long-term self-reliance needs. Think of who will help you with your needs and what community organizations help people with similar needs.
Think of people with similar career goals or those who have gone through similar challenges as you. These resources could come from your ward or stake or could come from other Church and community resources.
4. Develop an Action Plan
You and others helping you may be required to take specific actions to help you accomplish your goal. With each step, identify:
- What action needs to take place?
- Who can assist you in fulfilling the assignment?
- When is each assignment to be completed?
- When should completed assignments be reported?
Personal ownership is crucial in developing self-reliance. You are responsible to go through each step of your goal and get to where you want to be in your career. And keep in mind that this plan is not a one-time thing; you will want to come back and revisit this development plan throughout your career.
Example of a Career Development Plan
| Career Goal: | Become a registered nurse |
| Desired Income: | $50,000 |
| Current Skills and Interests: |
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| Requirements: |
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| Plan to Reach Career Goal: |
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| Obstacles: |
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| How to Overcome: |
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How Can I Advance in My Career?
If you are looking to advance in your career as part of your development plan, there are a few things you can do. Check out these career management tips to learn how you can advance within your company.
How Can I Get a Promotion?
If one of your career goals is to get a promotion in your current job, check out the webinar below.