Creating a Career Plan
What do you want to do in the future, and how can you get there? Creating a career plan answers these questions and helps you understand what kind of job you want and what professional experiences can help you get it. A career plan can always be changed or adapted, but it represents a starting point in a person’s professional development.
Step 1
Know Yourself
The first step in creating a career plan is to identify your goals, interests, and professional desires. You can’t start a career plan without first understanding what you aim for and what your priorities are. Ask yourself some self-reflection questions, use digital self-assessment tools, and write down all your answers and results.
Questions You Can Ask Yourself
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Self-Assessment Tools
Besides your own personal reflection, there are also digital tools and questionnaires that can help you understand your skills and the career fields that might be a good fit for you. They are only a starting point, and you should not base all your decisions only on the results.
A few examples:
The Myers–Briggs Test, which includes 16 personality types and a general profile for each type. It is based on 4 categories: extrovert or introvert, sensing or intuition, thinking or feeling, and judging or perceiving. The test can be completed on your own, in English, on 16 Personalities.
The O*NET Interest Profiler, an online tool built on Holland’s personality types: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional. The test can be taken on your own, in English, on the ONET* website.
Step 2
Know Your Options
After you understand your interests and priorities, start exploring actual fields and professions. What types of jobs or fields attract you? Make a list of all the fields and jobs you think you might like. It can be as long and as unrealistic as you want at first.
Don't know where to start?
Explore our list of job fields and profiles
Once you have your initial list, it’s time to research each field and profession in more detail, to understand the opportunities and responsibilities involved. Go through the items one by one and research: information about the field, the job market, job types available locally and internationally, and required qualifications. Based on what you find, see which fields or jobs stay on your list and which ones don’t.
It’s also recommended to explore your options in a practical way. Go to relevant events, career fairs, volunteer activities, and talk to people working in those fields. This will help you understand the field better and see if it truly fits you. |
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Step 3
Analyze and Compare Your Options
It’s possible that during Step 2 you already realized which field or job you want to pursue. But if not, and your list still includes different options, now is the moment to compare them and decide which one fits you best. Set clear criteria such as: compatibility with your interests and values, the job market and real opportunities for a career in that field, requirements of the profession, long-term growth opportunities.
Remember, you can always change your career plan. Choosing a field or career is important, but it can be changed at any time. If your interests, priorities, or practical needs change, just redo the process, map your options again, and plan your next steps. |
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Step 4
Create Your Action Plan
You’ve reached the final step in building your career plan. At this point, you already know your priorities and have a short list of fields or careers you want to follow. Now it’s time to identify the practical steps you need to take to turn your goal into reality. A few elements that can help you in this process are:
Finding the minimum experience and skills required for your desired career.
Mapping the necessary and recommended educational path (fields of study, level of education).
Listing the main types of events (conferences, fairs, workshops, seminars, etc.) that are relevant to your desired career.
Finding the main organizations and companies in your chosen field, as well as volunteer, internship, or practice opportunities they offer. These experiences help you develop the necessary skills and knowledge.
Creating a timeline for your career plan.
Even if your career plan is long-term, try to be as specific as possible. Set both long-term and short-term goals. Create measurable objectives and think about how much time you need to reach them. Also think about different ways you can achieve your final goal. |
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Once you map out these elements, you know where to start your journey toward your ideal career. Now it’s time to start looking for a job!
Do you want to access other resources as well?
Explore a list of online resources helpful for planning and developing your career.