What is Career Planning and Mapping?

What is Career Planning and Mapping?

Career Planning/Mapping is preparation through exploration. Career planning and mapping are about seeing every situation as an opportunity. A career plan/map is a document that outlines your 'current position'; your 'target position' and the steps you intend to take to move between the two. Your plan should be a fluid and evolving document that is reviewed and refined over time as your circumstances, interests and career objectives evolve.

Why should I develop a Career Plan/Map?

A career plan will assist you to behave more strategically when it comes to:

1.     pursuing employment opportunities

2.     undertaking further education and professional development

3.     broadening your skill and knowledge base

4.     broadening your professional network

5.     growing your professional profile

A key element to Career Planning/Mapping is information, as information turns into learning opportunities.

A career plan will allow you to regularly review your progress and achievements against your planned objectives so that you can track and recalibrate your activities in moving towards your identified goals.

When should I begin planning for my career?

Each student is unique when exploring career opportunities. It is important to set SMART career goals early as possible in your academic experience, preferably beginning in your first year of study.

A guideline for SMART goal planning for your Career Plan/Map is:

Specific:  Be specific.

·         "I want to work with animals" is a general goal. "I want to become a veterinarian, specializing in domestic pets in London" is more specific.

Measurable: Make a timetable and break your career goal down into small steps.

·         Focus on one step at a time. With each step, you will gain more confidence in your knowledge and decision making abilities. For example, before you graduate you may want to have identified three veterinary programs and be aware of their admission requirements.

Attainable: What education will you need? How much will it cost? Where will you get it?

·         Develop the information, skills and abilities you need to make your career goal attainable.

·         Constantly look for new opportunities and resources to make it happen. For example, explore the possibilities of co-op education or part-time work as a way of financing your education.

Realistic: research of your career choice will allow you to make a clear decision.

·         Ask yourself, "Do I really want this?" "Can I do this?" "Does it pay enough?" "Does it fit with my personal strengths?" Don't sell yourself short, but be honest. If you're allergic to animal hair, for example, then maybe being a veterinarian is not for you.

Timely: Write down a reasonable deadline for achieving each step toward your career goal.

·         Review it often to evaluate your progress and make necessary changes. For example, before you graduate, you may want to spend six months volunteering at an animal shelter and two weeks shadowing a vet.

Once you are ready to set a career goal, you can begin by asking yourself a series of GOAL SETTING QUESTIONS.

Career planning/mapping is a bottom-up process. Begin your map by starting at the foundation, which is you.

1.    Self-Exploration & Assessment

Career Mapping begins with knowing your career preferences: Understanding yourself through a self-assessment of your skills, interests, abilities, values and personality.  While exploring your interests and skills, it is helpful to engage in some self reflection.

Complete the Career Mapping Questionnaire and the exercises in the Self Assessment Module

CAREER TESTING: Additionally, you can participate in career testing to hone in on your interests and abilities. The Centre for Career Education offers various types of career testing available on an individual appointment basis. If you are interested in our career testing resources, go to the myCareer site and click on the career appointments tab and select interest testing / vocational assessment.

2.    Research

Once you have determined who you are and where your interests lie, researching is the next step. Explore your options (study, career, volunteer work, summer work, part-time and casual work, industry training and internships). Gathering information about your occupational options is an integral part of mapping your career. Information about your options can include:

a.     job descriptions

b.    working environment and conditions

c.     training

d.    other qualifications & advancement opportunities

e.     future job prospects

f.     rates of pay

Resources available to conduct labour market and career research

3.    Make Your Map

When you are finished conducting your initial research, it is time to make a decision and to develop your Career Plan/Map.  Go to the Career Planning/Mapping Workbook.

4.    Take Action

•          After setting your goals, you have to follow it up with continued action. I would like to say that success is effortless, but we all know this is not true.  By taking action you will begin to develop your career management skills (such as self-reliance skills, and maintaining career health), and you will be able to evaluate your progress.

Continually Measure and Calibrate

•          You will need to continually measure your progress to see if your actions are taking you closer or further away from your career goal, and you will have to re-calibrate accordingly.

•          Based on your current progress, you may have to change your career plan/map and/or your actions in order to achieve your career goals.

CCE RESOURCES

Developing an Action Plan

Once you have decided a general career direction, it is essential to begin developing an action plan that will guide you in meeting your career goals.

Developing an Action Plan (one-on-one appointment)

You can meet with a Career Resources staff member to develop a Career Map or action plan to meet your career goals, as well as assistance with career-related goal setting and decision making. To book an appointment, visit the myCareer site at https://my.uwindsor.ca and click on the career appointment calendar and register for a career advising appointment.