How to Prepare Your Career Path

It is said that ‘Do not look for jobs but build your careers’.
Career building involves Career Planning. Planning is a critical process. It should be undertaken very carefully. This is a decision of a lifetime. Every student should plan his or her Career path prudently. This entails a number of steps:
Step 1
As a first step, one should analyze one’s aspirations and objectives, their fields of professions which are satisfying or rewarding financially and emotionally. For example, one might like to travel, or do cooking or work for the society…
Step 2
Then one should select and narrow down one’s options to careers based on their areas of interest. For example, Journalism, Travel guide, Chef, social worker, etc.
Step 3
The next step should be a decision based on one’s monetary aim. Undoubtedly, money is a great motivator.
Step 4
These objectives clearly defined, one should then do researches on the kind of educational or professional skill requirements for one’s chosen options. This should always be done while keeping a clear focus on one’s aptitude, personality traits, strengths and weaknesses.
Step 5
The next logical step is to set out to obtain the required skills and training. If any specialized degree or certification is required, one should work towards attaining it.
Step 6
After completing one’s education, one should aim at trying to get placement assistance from one’s University or looking out for opportunities in one’s specialized field. Networking with people belonging to that field could be a valuable resource.
Step 7
Initially, one will get an entry level position. However, one should try opting for a position in which one can train for one’s dream position. A great way to do that is to actually perform the assigned work diligently and learning the intricacies of the trade in the process. One should be careful not to project an image of someone who switches jobs very frequently to climb up the career ladder.
Step 8
A periodic review one’s career path is essential. Sometimes, with exposure and experience your priorities and interests may undergo a change. Due to constant technological changes too, some new, specialised careers might emerge in one’s field of work and one might find oneself to be more suited for that change. Any career path should have that flexibility.