Crafting a Successful 5-Year Career Plan for Professional Growth

5-yr plans An important tool for a career-life strategy Dr. Mark Luttenton Associate Dean of the Graduate School January 23, 2016 PACES Workshop Job Hunting in Today s Economy

Background A degree (whether first or entry-level professional) is a starting point for a career Graduates today are a new generation of employee Will average a new job every 4.4 yrs Have multiple careers before retirement Have opportunities to work across disciplines and professions How will your career & job opportunities relate?

Whats a 5-yr plan? Start with an achievable, but challenging, goal Can be reached in 4-5 yrs with persistence & perseverance Is related somehow to your desired career trajectory http://www.career-change- confidence.com/career-development- plan.html

Sample plan My Five Year Career Plan - Steve Stevens Plan Period: April 2016 to April 2021 Current Position: Sales Representative Long Term Goal: Sales Manager Goals by Year: Year one: Increase sales by 3-5% Year two: Increase sales by 5% or more Year three: Become the companies top salesman Year four: Maintain sales title and show consistency Year five: Become Sales Manager

Draft goals and actions You should also draft goals and a plan to boost your personal development. For example: 1. Improve my sales skills Step 1: Increase product knowledge by reading product material 3 nights a week Step 2: Improve customer relations by taking social skills workshops and improving my public speaking skills Step 3: Become a more accomplished salesperson 2. Improve my relationship with Higher Ups Step 1: Display a positive work ethic and good morale when asked to do tasks Step 2: Develop and share strategies to reduce issues in the office Step 3: Develop better rapport with boss through conversation

5 steps to follow Step 1 - Know where you are What drives you? What has influenced your career choices? How did you get to your current track? Educational & professional qualifications Work skills Work experience Interests Hobbies

5 steps Step 2 Know where you want to be What s your career destination? Where do you see yourself in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years? If you had the resources, time and connections to find your dream career, what would you be? How have your qualifications, experience, skills and values served you at work? If you weren t hindered by yourself or your situation, who would you be?

5 Steps Step 3 Know what it will take to get there (aka reality testing ) Are you prepared to make changes and sacrifices if you have to? Step 4 Put it in print Set out the big picture and all the detailed in- between action steps If it seems too big, chunk it down Monitor outcomes of your actions Smart goal setting Step 5 Remember Nike s ad slogan

Yoda had it rightDo, there is no try There is no substitute for doing

Final tips If achieving goals on your own is tough, consider using a career coach or advisor Career development is an organic, growing process Not very linear Involves false starts and dead ends Needs attention, nurturing and time to grow Can be a rewarding journey, whether or not you arrive at your destination