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In the last entry we talked about Strategic Career Planning.

Once you have determined where you want to go by completing a strategic career plan, you need to go through several steps.  The first is to do a thorough assessment which identifies where you are now:  your skills, talents, abilities, knowledge, values, and lifestyle.

You can start with some standardized assessments ( MBTI, Strong Interest Inventory, CPI 260,) and other career assessment tools.  A career coach can help with the assessment process, since this person can provide the expertise as well as the objective feedback.

However, it is not just about what you do well, but what you want to pursue at this time in your life.  It is a complex process, particularly if you are working in an established career.  As we get older, our priorities often shift.  We may want to focus on areas that are underdeveloped and take a different  direction with our careers.

If you want to stay with your organization, you should match your abilities, skills, and knowledge with the needs of the organization.  Talk with your manager to develop a career path based on the future needs of the organization.  If you can identify a specific career path, you can create a plan, with your manger, to develop the skills and knowledge needed to be hired in that position.

But the first step is to create that strategic career plan.  Many people do not want to spend the time to go through that process, and later find that they have repeatedly taken whatever job comes along, and therefore have  others direct their career path.  Take some time to plan and you will soon reap the benefits.