Career Planning
Whatever stage you are in your career, it is always a good idea to have a career plan. If you are working, consider asking the following questions:
- Where am I going to be in five years?
- Are you planning to stay at the same company or will it be time for a change?
- If it’s time for a change, have you researched other companies that you are interested in?
- Do you anticipate being in the same position or is there room for growth?
- If there is room for growth how will that come about – through conversations with your supervisor or Human Resources Department or will you need to take a different route?
- Will growth entail taking courses - sponsored by the company or paid by you?
- If you are going to take courses, what kind of courses?
These are just a few questions to get you thinking about planning for your career. If you are just starting out in your career, you also want to be thinking about these questions, as the answers will help you when making your decision about what kind of companies to target. Of course, this will occur after you have completed your research on industries and companies that interest you.
If you need help creating a career plan, check out resources like the University of Waterloo’s Career Manual or consider hiring a Career Coach or go to your local libraries’ Career Resources Section and ask a librarian for help. Take advantage of resources on the internet such as The Transitions Program’s Career Articles and Blog. Go to the Career Development page for information about assessments and tools.
Another tool to consider using is ASTTBC’s Career Manager. The Career Manager is a great tracking and planning tool that can assist you in creating your Career Plan. For more information on the Career Manager, please contact ASTTBC.
