By Jennifer Browne and Lisa Russell

Questions about career plans are common and many of us do not know what steps to take to answer our own questions or how to help other’s answer theirs. As individuals and career practitioner professionals, it is important to effectively provide guidance in this area. This article outlines some small but important career navigation tools which can be applied to individuals that you lead or to your own career plan.

One of the best ways to work on career plans with your staff or for yourself is to develop a learning plan or contract. This document looks at the needs and wants of you, the individual and together with the employer, outlines a plan which identifies goals and how they can be achieved. A learning plan allows you to personalize your own learning experiences and focus on gaps you detect in your own skill set.

The Learning Plan, whether completed with an employee, supervisor or on your own, is an evolving, changing document that can be modified upon review to meet new or future challenges in your job. All Learning Plans generally contain the same core elements some of which include:

• Leaning Objectives: What the learner wants to acquire; knowledge, skills competencies etc.
• Learning Activities: What activities the learner will engage in to acquire this new awareness
• Target Date: What is the time frame in which the activities will be accomplished
• Investment: Time, money, resources etc. committed by the individual and/or employer
• Success Indicator: How will the employee make evident the goal has been accomplished

There are a number of sample learning contracts on-line that can start anyone on this path. It is important to remember that once developed, the plan must be reviewed regularly to ensure goals and time lines are being met and to remind the learner what skills were identified and being worked towards. It permits the employee to be an active participant in the learning process and identify their own strengths and weaknesses. Whether you develop one on your own or you facilitate this exercise with your staff, the use of learning plans is a worthwhile activity that encourages all parties to be active learners and to take ownership of their own professional development.

In addition to learning plans, there are a number of other components one can select to effectively navigate your career or assist others in doing the same. Theses include encouraging self-awareness, short and long term goal setting, goal achievement, resume and portfolio development.

Self-awareness is important as a means of exploring current skills and future skill needs, motivators, and values. Write down on a sheet of paper what satisfies you at work and what is important to you in the workplace and then rank them according to importance. This exercise will start you thinking about how your values and motivators fit into current and future work environments.

Strategically examining short and long-term career goals is another way you or your employees can engage in active career navigation. Short-term goals involve thinking about your next career move, exploring current positions available, comparing your skills to those required, getting additional training if necessary and/or developing an effective portfolio. Long-term career plans typically look beyond three years and may involve developing core skills required to move on or up. For that future dream job, find out the core skills and experience required through current literature, job postings, talking to a few people in similar positions and then, develop a long-term plan that allows you to gain these crucial and significant skills.

Once these goals have been identified, you now must figure out how to achieve them. Many people automatically think of climbing up the career ladder, but up is not the only option. Why not think latterly? Move around your organization, work with new people and expand your knowledge. Enriching your current position by discussion with your supervisor about expanding your responsibilities and developing new skills ensures your current position remains exciting while maintaining the same job title and pay. Gaining those core skills needed to snag your dream job may mean realigning or moving downward. Shifting down can provide, not only a new experience, but can also set you on a whole new career path. Of course, there are times when moving on or relocating is the most appealing choice and can be a great option.

Wherever you are on the career navigation path, an effective resume and portfolio is essential. Your master portfolio, a binder or folder which may include a variety of personal documentation, is a fluid document where pieces can be added to or taken away from depending on need. It can include, but is not limited to: a summary of past experience and future goals, current resume, samples of work, a list of awards and honours received, volunteer work or community service, presentations and publications, letters of recommendation and references. These are personal documents so be creative and include what you think makes you stand out.

The more planning you do regarding your career the more control you have over where you end up. Most people put more time and energy into planning a vacation than their career. Think about what you want to do, the opportunities around you, what you need to do to prepare, then set the plan in motion.

References:

Hansen, Randall (June 2004). Your job skills portfolio: Giving you an edge in the marketplace. Retrieved from www.quintcareers.com/job_search_portfolio.html.
Hiemstra, R., & Sisco, B. (November 2002). The Importance and use of learning contracts. Retrieved from http://home.twcny.rr.com/hiemstra/tlchap8.html.
Lee, Kristy. (June 2004). Six tactics for career development: Get where you want to be. Retrieved from www.igda.org/articles/klee_career.php.

Jennifer Browne is the Manager of the Centre for Career Development at Memorial University. She is also a Contact Point Board Member.
Lisa Russell is the Seniors Arts Career Development Coordinator at Memorial University of Newfoundland.