Seven steps of career planning

1.Become aware of the need to decide.

Once an individual is aware of the need to decide upon career options, he/she can begin the process.

2.Learn about self or re-evaluate self.

Career decisions should be based upon one’s knowledge of one’s interests, abilities/skills, work-related values, and goals.

3. Identify occupational alternatives.

DISCOVER’S World-Of-Work Map makes this linkage easy because it organizes self-information, programs of study, and occupations into a scheme that utilizes interests, skills, and values.

4. Get information about identified alternatives.

ACT’s assessments help individuals focus their exploration on jobs in the following categories: Business contact, Business operations, Technical fields, Science, the Arts, and Social Service.

5.Choose from available alternatives.

At this step in the process individuals identify a specific list of occupations and place them in priority order. Individuals can look at specific details such as education required, employment outlook, salary, and working conditions in each occupation.

6.Make educational choices.

This step may include selecting a college which offers a specific major, going back to school, taking certain courses related to a field, or taking training offered by an employer.

7. Implement a vocational choice.

For some, this is the selection of a first job after leaving school. For others, it is making a career change. At this point, individuals must decide whether the result of the process is satisfying or if they need to start the entire decision-making process over again.