Career planning

In today's volatile job market it has become imperative to make career planning a viable part of your employment.  Whether you are a high school graduate trying to plan for college or an experienced person in the job market career planning can make the difference between a having a career that you love and enjoy and simply having a job.  Everyone would do well at whatever point they are at in their employment life to take some time and review their employment options and make a career plan. Even a few minutes of planning can yield life-changing results.   Here is what you need to know about career planning-

For the high school student
It is not too early to begin career planning even for the student who is in high school.  There are a huge number of resources to help students begin making career planning decisions. 

Some of these are:

• Aptitude and interest tests-Taking these tests can help students determine not only what they are good at but what they are interested in.  Most of these tests can be done at the high school and if they are not available often testing can be done at a nearby college or university.  It is important to understand that these tests are not iron clad and are only meant to serve as a guide for students looking at various careers.  Keep in mind though that if your student has their heart set on a particular career and it does not show up on their test results this is not meant to discourage them.  Aptitude and interest tests can also function as a jumping off point for a student unsure of what careers they would like to investigate.
• School counselors-These counselors can often provide in-depth information for students looking at a particular career.  In addition they can also give information on the best colleges and universities for a particular career along with pertinent financial aid information. Encourage your student to utilize their counselor as a part of their career planning.
• Internships and student employment-At this early point in career planning students can take the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of a career by either doing an internship or even possibly gaining employment in their chosen field.  This will give them a bird's eye view of the career they are interested in and help them determine whether or not this is something they want to pursue. In addition internships and employment look very good on college and scholarship applications giving the student another boost in their career planning.
• Investigate post-high school options-While many professional careers require a college degree some do not.  It is important that a student determine where they can receive the best post-high school training for the career they ultimately wish to pursue.  Some colleges do specialize in certain programs so students pursuing a particular degree would do well to investigate and ultimately make their college choice based on the school that will help their long-term career planning more viable.

For the college student
For purposes of this discussion we will assume that your college student has determined what career they want to pursue (this is often not the case).  Should your college student still be undecided about what career to pursue some of the above mentioned steps can be taken to help them.  For the college student who knows what career they want to pursue the following steps can be helpful in their career planning-

• Job Fairs-Colleges have numerous job fairs throughout the year.  Recruiters from various industries will come onto college campuses to give information about their company and employment possibilities.  To often college students wait to attend these job fairs thinking that they do not need to network until they are ready to graduate.  Savvy job seekers will attend these on-campus job fairs in order to network with recruiters (many who attend these job fairs from year to year).  This way a college student can form a relationship with a recruiter while gaining information about possible jobs with companies.  Many times these recruiters are much more likely to hire someone they know (and have a relationship with) when there are jobs to be filled.
• Internships-Again, internships become a valuable tool for the college student.  When doing one of these internships students are allowed even greater access into the network of a company.  This allows the college student to be seen as a potential employee.  And conversely this allows the college student to see first-hand whether this is a company that they would like to work at.  Many times if the company and the college student are a good fit a job offer is presented at the end of the internship.
• Interviewing-At this stage of career planning college students would do well to interview those already working in their chosen field.  Encourage your student to conduct themselves professionally and schedule a time to meet with their chosen professional.  And one of the side benefits of this is that this can also function as a great way to network to that entry level job.

For the entry-level professional
After finally getting that much sought after job many people simply lay back and assume that their career planning days are over.  This is a crucial mistake in career planning.  An entry-level job is just that-a beginning spot.  For those employees who want to continue in their career planning is critical.  Here are some career planning ideas for the entry level professional-

• Do a good job whatever your job is now.  While this may seem obvious to often in their zeal to move up entry level employees neglect the duties of their first job.  This is a crucial mistake.  You must realize that doing a good job now will open doors to advance your career later.  Even if you feel that your job is beneath you or simply "grunt" work doing it well is the first step in your long-term career plan.
• Investigate what you want your next job to be.  While you focus on what your job is now it is important to have a plan as to where you want to go.  Do you want your boss's job?  Than it is important to find out what exactly what your boss does and how he or she got there.  Keep in mind that he or she is looking to move up as well so you want to be ready to be named their replacement.  Do you want to move to a different type of job?  Then it is critical to be aware of what the job requirements are and understand if you will need additional training in order to move on to that job.  Having a plan and working on it for your career should an integral part of your work life.

For the seasoned professional
Career planning is also important for those employees who have several years of experienced employment.  Due to the ever changing economic conditions it is also vital that seasoned employees maintain career planning.  Here is what you seasoned professionals should ask themselves about their career plan-

• Are you in a job rut?  Statistics show that many mid to higher level professionals feel stymied in their jobs.  Career planning can help get you out of a rut and into a job that is challenging and fulfilling. Taking an objective look at your job and what you really want can help you determine what step to take next in your career plan.
• Are you employable should the worst happen?  Today's news is filled with massive layoffs and company shutdowns.  Employees who are cross-trained are the most likely to be able to find another job quickly.  While it may seem disloyal to be training for another position while you hold one job it is critical to understand that you are the only one who ultimately cares about your career.  And should you be spared a massive layoff or company shutdown it is important to keep in mind that when companies move to cut costs middle management (complete with expensive salaries and expense accounts) are often the first to go. Proper career planning can help this from being a traumatic step in your career.
• Does your employer provide training for career advancement?  Many times employees overlook one of the biggest helps in their career planning-their employer.  Savvy employers are looking to retain happy and well-trained employees.  If your employer provides training (or tuition reimbursement for training) seasoned professionals would do well to take advantage of this to further their career planning. 
• Are you looking for a second career?  In today's world studies show that few people continue to work in one career for their entire work life.  This can be due to many factors: family, interest change, desire to move locations etc.  If you are looking to segue into another career planning is critical.  Taking whatever job skills you have honed in your present job and finding ways to fill in the gaps in a new career can be extremely helpful. Investigating your new career and determining how and when you can make a switch is a key part of your career planning.