Delaware Career Resource Network

Department of Labor >> OOLMI

	Career Planning Career planning is too important to be left to chance. After all, the decisions you make now will affect the rest of your life, especially the 25-40 years you will spend in the work force. If you want a satisfying career, you must prepare by following these steps. Remember that planning for your future may not be a steady progression up the steps. You may need to move up and down the steps as your life's circumstances change.
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Planning Steps
Just the Facts Planning Steps Education & Training Financing Your Education Resumes & Applications So You Got the Job!	Steps to Career Planning Step 1: Self Assessment Learn about yourself, your values, your interests, and your abilities. Talk to your school counselor about a variety of tests to give you information about yourself. Check websites for inventories. Step 2: Occupational Research Learn as much as you can about a variety of careers. Investigate what's available and the preparation that is needed. "Try out" careers through job shadowing, mentoring, cooperative education, or other means. Check out trends in occupations (Where are the jobs? What are the "hot jobs?") Step 3: Decision Making Develop personal and career objectives. Step 4: Education/Training Investigate options for education/training. Enroll in and complete necessary training. Step 5: Applying for Jobs Learn the skills to seek and keep a job. Launch a search for your career. Step 6: Work Begin your job. Investigate ways to upgrade your skills and advance in your company. Step 7: Career/Life Planning Review periodically where you are and where you want to be. Make changes as needed.

Last Updated: Monday December 12 2005