How to Create a Career Map
You wouldn’t head out on a lengthy road trip without knowing where you’re heading and where you’ll be passing through on your way. While you might not plan out every single pit stop and bathroom break along the way, you wouldn’t set off on your road trip without a destination in mind, an idea of how long it’ll take to get there, and a plan for getting there.
Why wouldn’t it be the same for your career?
No matter where you are in your career, you should know what’s working, what’s not working, and your goals for where you want to go. A career map, much like any other map or your GPS, helps you keep your end destination in mind no matter where you are along your career journey.
Taking the time to map out your career is a great way to get clear on your goals and come up with actionable steps to getting there. Research shows that people who write their goals down are 42% more likely to achieve them, so making a detailed career map that reminds you of your ultimate goal is the perfect way to set yourself up for success.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you make your own career map.
1. Identify your ultimate goal
Before you can properly map out your career, you need to be clear on what your ultimate goal is. Setting goals is linked to higher rates of success, self-esteem, self-confidence, and motivation, so taking time to set your goal now can actually help you achieve it.
Take some time to think about where you are now and where you would like to be. Are you happy in your field but want to move into upper-level management? Do you want to be widely recognized as an expert in your industry? Do you want to move to an entirely different industry?
Be as detailed as possible when you’re defining your ultimate goal. Create a S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goal that encompasses exactly what you want to accomplish, how you’ll measure your success, what you’ll do to achieve your goals, how your goal fits into your career’s big picture, and your deadline for achieving your goal.
2. Identify where you are now
Take a good hard look at where you are now in relation to your ultimate goal.
Pull up a description of what your ultimate dream job entails and pay attention to the skills and qualifications you have that match the job description. After you’ve identified those, identify the skills and qualifications you need before you can reach your final goal.
Once you’ve identified all the skills and qualifications you currently have and those you need to work on, write them down. For example, you may already have the great communication skills you’d need to become a Vice President of Marketing, but you might need a few more years of work experience before you can be promoted to VP of Marketing.
3. Identify the steps you need to take to reach your goal
Once you’ve figured out your career goal and what you need to reach it, it’s time to come up with actionable steps that will help you get there.
You may have to work many different jobs before you can have your dream job, so list the progression of jobs you’ll likely go through before you’re hired for your dream job. For example, if you want to become a VP of Marketing, you may be promoted through the ranks of Marketing Coordinator, Marketing Manager, and Director of Marketing before you finally get promoted to VP of Marketing.
If you are currently lacking some of the skills and qualifications that you need to reach your ultimate goal, research ways to earn those qualifications and learn those skills. Depending on your goal, you may have to go back to school for an additional degree, like an MBA. You may also need a special license to help you achieve your ultimate goal. For example, if you want to be a nurse, you’ll need to be licensed to practice in the state you want to work in. If you don’t need another degree or a license, you would likely benefit from taking courses that can help you develop new skills and sharpen your existing skills.
4. Draw your map
Now that you’ve identified your goal, where you currently are, and what you need to do to reach your goal, it’s time to create your career map.
Start creating your map by outlining your current job. Write down your current job title and include a brief overview of your job description. Include bullet points with details about your job requirements, what you’ve achieved, and the skills you’ve learned while holding this position.
Next, create the end of your map by outlining your dream job. Write down your dream job title and include a brief overview of the job description. Be sure to include bullet points with additional details about the job’s requirements, as well as the skills and qualifications you need for the job.
Once you’ve added information about where you are and where you want to be, start filling in the middle of your map with what you need to do to reach your career goal. If you need additional schooling first, write down the type of degree(s) you need to earn and the number of years it typically takes to earn your diploma. If you’re missing some of the skills you need for your dream job, write down any courses you plan on taking to learn those skills. If the courses are self-guided, you can jot down approximately how long you’d like to spend on the courses. If the courses are taught live by instructors, write down how long the courses will be according to what the instructors say. Finally, if you know you have to progress through a series of jobs before landing your dream job, write down all of those jobs and include information about them like you did for your starting and ending jobs.
Once you completely fill out your career map, leave it somewhere where you’ll see it often. Refer back to your career map from time to time to reevaluate where you are in your career and to make sure you stay on track.
If you’d like a clearer visual of your career path, you can create an illustration of your career map. Here’s an example from the HR Trend Institute:
Wrapping Up
Use your career map as a tool to stay motivated while working toward your ultimate goal. Focusing on tackling each of the smaller goals included in your map instead of focusing on your endgame will keep you from getting overwhelmed while ensuring that you make steady progress.
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