Step 5: Develop a career plan.

The objective of this last step is to help you develop a plan outlining how you will attempt to reach your new career goal.  This step is appropriate for individuals who have completed the first 4 steps of this program; as well as individuals who have made a career decision without the use of this program, but who would like assistance in developing a plan to reach their career goal.

For most people, creating a career plan usually involves:

• Identifying the qualifications typically recommended (or required) of people who wish to enter the career you have chosen.

• Determining which of the qualifications you have not yet developed.

• Determining what actions (tasks and decisions) you should undertake and in which order to develop your missing qualifications.

Here's how this step usually works.  Following our directions, you will first answer a number of questions (see below) about your career goal, and then arrange your answers into a step-by-step plan.

Help is available!  Figuring out how to achieve your career goal can sometimes be difficult and confusing.  If this is the case for you, please don't hesitate to contact us for assistance.

We suggest you print a copy of this page, complete each step in the order presented and check off [Ö] each step as it is completed.

Directions:

1. [ ] On a separate sheet of paper, record your answers to the questions listed below.  Number your answers to match the question numbers.  Complete this step before you move on to the next step.  If necessary, you may need to refer to the following resources for answers:

• Occupational literature - visit our Occupational Literature page for access to information on hundreds of occupations.

• Educational literature - visit our Academic and Vocational Training page for a listing of schools and colleges and the programs they offer.

2. [ ] Review all of your answers and on a separate sheet of paper create a list all of the "decisions" and "tasks" that must or should be completed in order to prepare yourself for entrance into your new career.  Label one list "Decisions" and one list "Tasks."
    

3. [ ] Rearrange your decisions and tasks into one list according to the order in which they should be completed.  Number the items from first to last.
    

4. [ ] If possible, assign a starting and ending date to each decision and task to indicate when each item should be started and completed.
    

5. [ ] Next to each decision and task, list any major obstacle that you anticipate you'll encounter as you attempt to complete the decision or task.  If possible, also list a solution that you can call upon to resolve the obstacle if it should occur.

If this step has gone well for you, then you now know what decisions and tasks you need to complete, in which order the should be completed, when you want to start and end your career preparation, and where you may encounter problems (and possibly even solutions).  Congratulations!  Now, go put your plan into action and achieve your new career goal!

 

However, if you are unsure of what you should do, then please contact us to discuss the information you've gathered in this step.

Questions

1. What is the job title of your career goal?

2. Which level of education is typically recommended or required for entrance into your chosen career?  (Skip this item if no formal education is recommended or required.)

• High school diploma (or GED)

• Post-secondary certificate or diploma

• 1 or 2 year college degree

• 4 year college degree

• Masters or Graduate degree

• Doctoral degree

• Other (If you select this option, please describe.)

3. Have you completed the level of education you listed for "B" above?
    

4. If you selected one of the educational options in "B" above, which program of study (example: college major) is recommended or required to prepare for entrance into your chosen career?  If several programs are appropriate, list them all.

Here are a few examples of programs of study titles to give you a clue to how you should answer this question.

Accounting Business management Chemistry Data entry Electrical engineering Forensics Geology History International law Journalism Latin American studies Marine biology Native American studies Oceanography

Political Science Quantum Physics Religious Education Science (Earth Science) Travel & Tourism Urban Planning Vocational Rehabilitation Western Civilization Zoology

5. Have you completed any of the programs of study you listed for "D" above?  If so, indicate which ones.
    

6. If you have not yet completed any of the programs of study that you listed in "D" above, have you selected a school or college where you can complete such a program?  If yes, indicate school name and location. (If you have completed at least one program of study listed in "D" above, then skip this step.)
    

7. Would participation in any of the following provide you with work experience that would appreciably increase your chances of securing employment in your career field?

• Cooperative education program

• Internship opportunity

• Part-time job

• Volunteer work

Note: assume that all the activities listed above would be in the same field as your career goal.

8. Does your career recommend or require that you obtain a special license or certification to qualify for entrance into your career?  If so, what kind of license or certification?
    

9. Is your career one that can be entered immediately after completion of all appropriate training, or should you first obtain employment in a related field and then seek a position after you have gained work experience?
    

10. What obstacles (problems) do you anticipate that you will encounter as you attempt to prepare for and seek employment in your career field?  Typical obstacles include:

• Need financial aid

• Busy work schedule (hard to fit in time for schooling)

• Live too far away from the necessary training

• My spouse/family doesn't support my career development

• My past criminal record will prevent me from finding employment