When you plan
your career you are in a position to set a time frame to achieve
it and work at it with a disciplined mind, setting milestones in
your life.
First step
You can start off by
penning briefly, in five to ten sentences, about where you see
yourself in five years. You have to do this with an open mind
without imposing restrictions coloured by preconceived notions.
Visualise your achievements in terms of status, money, family,
social responsibility and so on.
Second Step
Once you have
identified your needs you try to understand and analyse your
strengths and weaknesses both in the context of your personality and
environment. Try and visualise all the opportunities in your life
and the threats and obstacles to the attainment of your goals.
Third Step
Frame your goals in the
short term and the long term based on the reflection of the needs
noted and based on your strengths, weaknesses and possible
opportunities. The short-term goals to be accomplished should be
based on your long-term goals.
Fourth Step
Enumerate specifically
the shortcomings in your personality and in the environment, which
can obstruct the attainment of your goal. These obstructions would
be relative and specific to your goal; they could be in the form of
knowledge, particular skills, qualifications, our behavior, and your
monetary/ social status. As soon as you identify a shortcoming, make
a commitment to change it - it changes or transforms itself into a
possibility for growth.
Fifth Step
After
identifying the shortcomings, you have to set down, specifically in
writing, what actions you will take to sublimate these shortcomings.
This will have to be within the set deadlines. It may require you to
acquire new skills, new knowledge, and upgrade existing skills.
Sixth Step
It is not at
all easy to analyze oneself, one's weaknesses and change them. We
have well - wishers in our parents, siblings, teachers, superiors,
and friends etc., who could help. Identify people who can help you
to remove possible barriers and ask for their
assistance.
Final Step
Clearly
specify all that you will do as per your plan. Set up a clear
operational context and fill in the content. Construct your career plan in
that framework. Those already working in an organisation must go a
step ahead and analyse their role to reflect on what is expected of
them by the organisation and what relevant innovative and
impactful contribution they can make to their organisation. Chances of
success are far greater when you adopt a methodology for career
planning, work at it with a disciplined mind evaluating your
contribution continuously. Your own determination to be self-governed rather
than drift will pay rich dividends.
