How to create your career development plan ? - Librarians Portal

                                                         Creating your career development plan

            Simply, a career development plans are list of long and short term goals that employees or students set for themselves in either their current role in their job for their future jobs. It includes a variety of experiences that employees must have, to achieve the goals they have situate for themselves. If you work on your career plan, remember that your career pathway is going to be exclusive to your skills, development process, and goals and your plan should reflect your wonder. After you finish writing your career development plan, you should be able to confidently assess your starting state, your goal state.

Why career development plan is Important?

Having a career development plan has been evidenced to impact employees positively. It aids in motivating employees, boosts morale, and increases productivity, career satisfaction, and responsiveness to meeting departmental and organizational goals. In effect, it helps employees create an actionable plan that will lead them to their dream job. Therefore, if you have not found your perfect job, a robust career development plan could be the best place to start.

Some steps you can be keep in mind to create your career plan 

Advantages of a Career Development Plan

Career development plans are mutually beneficial to both employees and employers. 

1. Self Development : You shall need discipline, focus, strong will, strength, and training to be able to choose a career path and stick to it. These traits will definitely pay off in the long run and provide you with immense advantages in the future.

2. Clear goals: Development plans provide workers and supervisors with a predictable timeline for the stepping stones that lead to new job duties, responsibilities, and job descriptions.

3. Company growth: An employee's career growth also contributes to the company's growth. Employees can leverage new skills and competencies for the company's benefit.

4. Selecting a Career Path: Career planning helps an employee understand the career opportunities available within an organization. It allows individuals to anticipate the level they can potentially reach and identify their inherent potential and aptitude. This knowledge empowers employees to choose a career path that aligns with their abilities and aptitude.

5. Employee retention: Setting goals with employees supports career advancement and engages employees, thereby boosting retention and reducing turnover rates.

Envisages your current position

Where are you in your career? What do you enjoy about your job?

Consider your goals

What does your dream career look like? What do you want to do more of, and what do you want to delegate to other people?

Analyse your skills

Consider both the skills you already confidently possess, and the skills you’ll need to develop in order to reach your goals. Read job postings for roles similar to your goal career if you need ideas.

Make a road map

Employees should name specific goals the worker would like to achieve over a mutually agreed upon time frame. It is to be noted that the action plan should have clear short-term goals.

Brainstorm your resources

Who can you turn to for support? What are the growth resources can you access? Does your employer offer any career development programs for you?

Write an action plan

You know the skills you need to develop and your resources. Consider both as you prepare to take action. What steps can you take to progress toward your goals? Creating a timeline for your action plan can help you stay on target.

Consider Other Factors

What is the current demand for this field? If the demand is low or entry is hard, are you comfortable with risk? What qualifications are requisite to go into the field? Will it require additional education or training? Gather advice from friends, well-wisher, colleagues, and family members. Consider potential outcomes.

Work toward your goals

Start making progress on your action items. Try new approaches, make modification, and seek guidance from expert and support if needed.

Track your milestones

Working toward your goals and building new skills is hard work, don’t give up. Don’t forget to celebrate your wins!