Brass tacks of career planning

When people start planning their career, they often encounter a snag in the initial stages itself. A multitude of options lie in front of them that apparently offer money, name, amenities and even security. The list of career options could be endless and which will tend to be very mystifying. It is quite natural that given the uncertainty that is spawned in their minds, feelings of self-loathing will also get generated. However, the state of bewilderment can be overcome by proper career planning.

You have two methods to take off. The first one is to discover what your passions are and go in for a line that is in harmony with them without having any worries about what the achievements and advancement prospects that exist in it. The second method is to find out what really impels you and select a career that offers you whatever you seek. Of course, you will have to acquire the necessary qualitative requirements for them. Whichever method you decide to adopt, you will accomplish whatever you desire. The first method will roll out before you a path that by itself will be a type of a gift or bonus. It is a different matter that many people will not encourage you take recourse to this option. History is replete with examples of how people trudged this path and achieved fame and job satisfaction. And the second method evidently is one wherein you gradually move forward towards your objectives that invariably could be enunciated as an outcome of your hard slog as also the career line in question. 

Choosing any of the above paths is immaterial; what is of prime significance is being able to discern your fortes and shortcomings. You need to do some introspection with a cool mind and ponder over various successes, big or small, that you may have had and how they enthused you to do better. It is essential that you make a note of all such occasions. You will find, much to your surprise though, that as you catalogue your past successes, a definite design will unfold before you. You will see in your mind's eye activities that you excel at and are at ease with. Every such activity is symbolic of a career option and accentuates your specific uniqueness and attributes that can prove to be real strengths in all career options that you may exercise in times to come.

What you need to do next is to find out issues and aspects that inspire you and which you seek to have. It is something like giving shape to your dreams. You need to discover where you fit in – your position has to be between your current position and the position that you eventually aspire to be in. When this image gets distinct and obvious, you will discover yourself as a more alert, self-assured and focused individual – these qualities will for certain place you in advantageous positions all through your career journey. What you have actually achieved is a well-defined and distinct image of yourself with definite marketable attributes.

Depending upon the intensity of your expectations and also your propensity, you can also look for careers that provide you adequate compensation for a way of life that you seek to lead. Suppose you want to go in for an outdoor routine with plenty of sporting and adventure activities, you could well opt for armed forces as a career. Likewise, if you have a penchant for travelling and meeting people, a career in sales will be a good fit for you. Quite a few men and women get carried away by glitzy fallacies related to some careers but are subsequently required to change their decisions. Remember that appreciation, advancement, benefits, job contentment and excellent lifestyle all stem from only one single thing – you have to be passionate and adoring towards the work that you do.

Once you set your bearings, you need to build know-hows and abilities. Different careers call for different qualitative requirements and standards. Your aim should be to stamp your individual label on it. All this makes it inescapable for you to gather maximum information, learn the financial sides of the job and take on apprenticeships or informational interviews. You will also need to undergo specialised training courses and acquire exclusive proficiencies. There is no career line that does not call for good communication skills and you need to possess them to be able to adhere to workplace ethics and maintain good relationships there.

The crux of the matter is to have well defined objectives before you set out on your career journey per se. The journey by itself will be a learning experience and you will get to have practical acquaintances with professional matters as you keep moving. But the uppermost item on your agenda should be to take your first step, more importantly take your best foot forward.