This is part 2 in a 5 part series about career strategy and planning.
Part 1 explored why people don’t have a career strategy and plan. This blog looks at why it makes sense to create a career strategy and plan.
“Purpose serves as a principle around which to organise our lives.” Anon.
Why create a career strategy and plan?
Here are some reasons why creating a strategy and plan is a good idea.
- Increases the chance of career fulfilment
- Making conscious decisions rather than falling into jobs or leaving your career to chance is wise
- What you focus on is what you get
- Having a career plan helps you to narrow down information and networking options in a world of growing information overload/overwhelm
- Trends show that in future, people will need a higher level of skill and qualification so it helps you plan the time and money to achieve this
- Competition is increasing with well qualified cheaper hungry to learn talent from ‘people rich’ countries e.g. India, Brazil, China
- More and more jobs are being replaced by technology
- Layers of management have been stripped out making getting a job for middle and senior management more competitive; differentiation and self-marketing is essential
- It provides a horizon towards which you are always moving, whatever life/work throws at you
- Helps you say ‘no’ to things so you avoid wasting time/energy
- Stops you going down the wrong path and having regrets
- Means you are less likely to make a mistake
- Gives you a sense of control and purpose in uncertain and unpredictable times
- Prevents other people/external events determining what happens
- Helps you evolve your career and be proactive rather than reactive
- Ensures a good fit between you and your work
What would you add?
Further blogs in this five part series will examine how to create a career strategy and plan, the opportunity cost of not doing this and some tips to help you.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain.
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In case you missed it, here is part 1 of this 5 part series:
https://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/2013/04/07/whats-your-career-strategy-and-plan-part-1-of-5/
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