Career Development
What Is Career Development?
Career development is the process of self-knowledge, exploration, and decision-making
that shapes your career. It requires successfully navigating your occupational options to
choose and train for jobs that suit your personality, skills, and interests.
When someone pays careful attention to their career development, they identify their
own strengths and blind spots, then work hard to improve their skills.
WHY IS CAREER DEVELOPMENT IMPORTANT?
Career development helps you stand out in front of employers, compete in today’s job
market, and grow within a company. The process of career development is just as
important for students as it is for those currently in the workforce. As a college student,
these plans help you make informed decisions around the major you choose, courses you
take, organizations you get involved in, and internships you pursue.
While career development plans may take time and effort, being intentional about your
growth will save you time in the long run. Without a career development plan, you risk
staying stagnant in your career or choosing the wrong path altogether.
TYPES OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Your career development journey doesn’t stop after you land your first job. It is a lifelong
process that needs to be continually refined and redefined. Below are some steps you can
take to be successful in your professional career long term.
Self awareness. Take time to find out what you want and don’t want, and discover where
your strengths lie and the areas that need improvement. Figure out what you excel at and
find a matching career path.
Goal setting. Set a series of small goals that will get you closer to your long-term goal. This
is where you’ll acquire information about different industries and organizations, and
create a career strategy of how to get there. This is also where you’ll participate in career
exploration and career identification.
Training and learning. Develop the specific skills necessary for career success. Whether
that be participating in a leadership training program, watching webinars, or taking on an
internship related to your overall career goal.
Factors That Influence Career Development
A person's career development can be affected by multiple factors, some of which may be
largely outside their control. These influences must be considered during the process of
developing a career.
Personal Characteristics: Personality type, interests, aptitudes, and work-
related values make all of us who we are. These personal characteristics play a significant
role in career development since they influence which occupations we find satisfying, as
well as the types of work environments in which we will succeed. That is why, when you
are in the process of choosing a career, it is so important to do a self-assessment that will
help you learn about yourself.
Financial Resources: Pursuing certain career options can be costly. If you choose an
occupation, for example, that requires you to attend college, you may be limited by your
ability to pay for it and need to seek student loans, financial aid, and
scholarships. Financial limitations can also hinder you when job-hunting.
Age: Your age, or your perception of it, can hinder you in your career development. You
may worry about being too young or too old to pursue a particular path, advance in your
career, or make a career change. Instead of focusing on your age, concentrate on your
abilities and how motivated you are.
STEPS TO CREATE A CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Creating a career you love requires planning and goal-setting. Here are some basic building
blocks of a strong career development plan.
STEP 1: CONDUCT A SELF-ASSESSMENT
Think about where you want to be in five to 10 years, and see how that lines up with the
jobs you’ve been considering. Weigh the pros and cons of each position you consider, such
as work-life balance, compensation versus fulfillment, industry culture and environment,
required education, location, and opportunities for long-term growth. Then, use that list to
help you determine your next steps and the overall career path you want to take.
STEP 2 : DO RESEARCH AND GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
Once you’ve completed your self-assessment, explore what industries may be the best fit
for you. To start, conduct research, take courses, build your network, and talk to people in
different professions.
One of the best ways to tell if an industry is right for you is to get hands-on experience.
Volunteering, part-time jobs, and internship programs are great opportunities to
determine if the job or degree you're pursuing aligns with your self-assessment.
STEP 3: ESTABLISH YOUR END GOAL
Once you’ve chosen the career you want to pursue, analyze how it lines up with your
current experience, skills, and values. This comparison will give you a clear picture of the
things you need to accomplish to reach your end goal.
STEP 4: SET CAREER DEVELOPMENT GOALS
After you’ve identified your long-term goal and developmental gaps, make a list of short-
term goals and tasks you need to accomplish. It can be overwhelming to compare where
you are today to landing your dream job, so it’s a good idea to break your plan into
smaller, more achievable milestones.
