As someone who has spent much of my career focused on health and wellness, I have become a firm believer in Whole-Being Wellness. If you are unfamiliar with this idea, the concept goes beyond a model of health as being limited to good nutrition and regular exercise. Different schools of thought consider different areas as related to Whole-Being Wellness but I like this model of Whole-Being Wellness which encompasses the following: Intellectual, Physical, Social, Emotional, Spiritual, Environmental and Occupational.
Because I often work with individuals who are less than satisfied with where they are in their careers, I thought this topic might be valuable in case anyone out there is thinking of making a job – or even – career change.
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Achieve Career Success With a Professional Development Plan
Do you have lofty ambitions in your career? Then it’s time to create a professional development plan that will help you reach them. Here, Evergreen Life and Wellness Coaching shares steps for creating a professional development plan that can take you a step closer to your career goals.
Define Your Goals
The first step in creating any plan is knowing exactly what you want to achieve. Take time to think about what success means to you and define a timeframe. Write them down, whether it’s getting promoted at work, earning an advanced degree, or starting your own business. These goals must be realistic and achievable for where you currently stand in your career path.
Assess Your Current Skills
If you are looking to take your career to the next level, a professional development plan is a must. Assess your current skills and understand what skills you still need to grow or learn and create an effective plan based on those. Identifying skills gaps allows you to fill them through courses or training. Think of it as a roadmap for reaching the next level in your career.
Go Back to School
Getting an advanced degree will be helpful as you work on hitting your long-term career goals and potentially uncovering opportunities along the way. Depending on the industry, having a degree can increase earning potential, as well as expand your knowledge. Different schools also offer different kinds of scholarships, which could open up further possibilities.
Take on Additional Work Responsibilities
Being adaptable to job roles or taking on additional responsibilities could bring opportunities otherwise unavailable by simply remaining static. Taking up additional projects or roles can also provide a chance to learn new skill sets, which could potentially help you become more marketable and advance in your career.
Keep Your Resume Updated
A great way to keep track of your accomplishments over years is by keeping your resume current. Use an online resume template — this allows for easy updating. Plus, most templates come with helpful hints regarding how best to list years’ worth’ of experience and accomplishments for better readability.
Consider Starting a Business
Taking the plunge and creating your own business can be an exciting yet intimidating endeavor, but with a comprehensive business plan and an effective marketing strategy, and by registering as an LLC or limited liability company, you’ll be well-equipped to face any business challenge that comes your way. Becoming an entrepreneur is a great way to take charge of your career trajectory.
Monitor Your Progress
Lastly, it’s crucial to monitor progress to ensure that both short-term and long-term goals are met on schedule. Always evaluate job performance against established benchmarks while making sure to regularly review your initial plans.
Your professional development plan doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. By taking stock of your current situation, setting goals, and identifying the steps to take to reach those goals, you can put yourself on the path to a successful career.
“Joyce Wilson is a retired teacher and enjoys sharing lesson plans, resources, and teaching tips on Teacher Spark. Her website is a compilation of practical resources that will inspire student engagement and instill a love for learning. By tapping into a student’s natural creativity and curiosity, Joyce believes that they can take their education to a new level.”