Plan Your Career

You are the expert in what you need and want in your career! The more you know about your interest, skills, values, and abilities the more likely you'll be able to make choices consistent with who you are.

Starting with the self-assessment process can help you to identify suitable occupational options and/or increase your confidence by confirming that you are on the right career path.

View the questions below to see if this section is really for you. This section will help you better understand your values, skills, interests, abilities and personal characteristics (from the Canadian Career Development Foundation Career Planning Guide).

Is this section really for you?

• I am clear about my values and what is important to me?  
  No / Sort of / Yes
• I know my personal characteristics?
  No / Sort of / Yes
• I am clear about my interests?
  No / Sort of / Yes
• I can name occupations that interest me and align with my current understanding of myself?
  No / Sort of / Yes

If you did not answer a full yes to one or more of these questions completing one or more of the activities in this section could be useful to you. If you answered yes to all you may wish to move to the section on Exploring Your Options.

Self-Assessment

It's up to choose a career that's "right" for you. To start your journey you will need to have a good idea about who you are and the activities you enjoy. This information will give you a foundation for making your career and life decisions.

It is important and can be extremely helpful to look for a relationship between your values, interests, strengths, talents, personal characteristics and your current or past occupational considerations.

Key considerations / things you will want to think about are:

• Values 
• Interests
• Personal Attributes / Personality
• Skills and Aptitudes
• Learning Experiences
• Significant Others
• Dreams and Thoughts
• Life Influences

You might also take a look at our Career Planner (PDF).

Good career decisions require good information—about your personal traits and preferences and about the world of work. Now that you have completed the self-exploration activities and identified some career alternatives it's time to gather information about the world of work. Information about jobs, occupations and employment prospects is called labour market information (LMI).

LMI can be found everywhere; Government departments, sector councils, newspapers and professional associations publish great information. To help you start exploring we've compiled information for you on approximately two hundred occupations. Thousands more exist! To explore education and training options we've put together a listing of several different training institutions. Be creative when thinking about potential career and educational options. And be curious! Remember—good research can lead to more satisfying career decisions!

View the questions below to see if this section is really for you. This section will help you better understand the labour market – job descriptions, educational requirements, employment requirements, wages, trends and outlooks (from the Canadian Career Development Foundation Career Planning Guide).

Is this section really for you?

• I know where to look for information on occupations?  
  No / Sort of / Yes
• I know what pieces of information are important to making a career decision?
  No / Sort of / Yes
• I know websites that have the occupational information I need and I can find that information on the sites?
  No / Sort of / Yes
   
• I know how to use my network of family and friends for information?
  No / Sort of / Yes
• I know how to find employers and working professionals to interview for information on occupations?
  No / Sort of / Yes
• I know the occupation I want to pursue and am ready to make an action plan to achieve this goal?
  No / Sort of / Yes

If you did not answer a full yes to one or more of these questions completing one or more of the activities in this section could be useful to you. If you answered yes to all you may wish to move to the section on Making Decisions.

Occupational Research

Use the Career Research Worksheet found on page 27 of A Guide to Planning Your Career (Manitoba Career Development) to document your occupational research. We recommend you research at least three to four career alternatives that interest you. Gathering and reflecting on this information will help you to feel confident in making a well-informed decision.

Personal contacts are also extremely valuable, often providing "up-close and personal" views of occupations. Once you have narrowed down your career options consider using mentoring and job shadowing programs to gain additional information to help guide your decision. Checkout the Career Mentor Program to connect with industry professionals for informational interviews that will help you formulate your career plans. Career Mentors share information about their occupations and offer practical, timely career advice. Use the interview notes worksheet on page 48 of the Canadian Career Development Foundation Career Decision-Making Guide to document your findings.

You have gained a better understanding of yourself and have researched several career options using labour market information and personal contacts – it's time to make some decisions! Be aware that the decisions you make now don't have to be perfect or set in stone. The decision you make is only the best it can be based on what you know about yourself and the labour market at this moment (Canadian Career Development Foundation Career Planning Guide). As you participate in classes, job and volunteer opportunities, and other experiential learning, you will discover more about the world of work and about you. What's most important is that you take the time to reflect on these experiences – What you liked and didn't like? What opportunities you were drawn to? How what you have learned and experienced might impact your plan and maximize opportunities?

View the questions below to see if this section is really for you. This section will help you evaluate the career opportunities you have researched and select a starting point for your career journey (from the Canadian Career Development Foundation Career Planning Guide).

Is this section really for you?

• I have made a decision on the career path I will start on?
  No / Sort of / Yes

If you did not answer a full yes to this question completing one or more of the activities in this section could be useful to you. If you answered yes you may wish to move to the section on Setting Goals.

Career Decision Making Profile

Before you get started, it could be helpful to understand what type of decision maker you are. Do you require a lot of information? Do you seek the advice of others or do you make decisions fast and with little information? The following tool will help you assess your decision making style and make recommendations to help balance your approach to decision making.

Career Decision Making Profile (External Resource - CCDQ.org)

Evaluating Options

Career decision making can be challenging and as a result individuals may put it off, or take minimal time to review options. There are several decisions to be made within the career planning process including:

• the field you want to enter,
• the training institution you will attend, and
• what paid/unpaid experiences you want to engage in

When making decisions about each of these aspects, focus on the competencies (knowledge, skills and attributes) you want to develop. Decision making that is thoughtful and reflective will lead to a more satisfying career choice.

You have likely started to identify occupations that are in line with your vision for the future. Once you have narrowed it down to three or four pathways start to compare occupational options with the results from your self-exploration. Use the template provided to evaluate each option and choose a career and educational path you would like to focus on.

Career Decision-Making Chart Page 33 (External Resource - Manitoba Career Development A Guide to Planning Your Career)

You have completed self-assessments, researched career options and decided on a career path, the next step is to set goals and create an action plan.

View the questions below to see if this section is really for you. This section will help you create an action plan to achieve your short and long term career goals (from the Canadian Career Development Foundation Career Planning Guide).

Is this section really for you?

• I have a plan or road map in place that will guide my actions?
  No / Sort of / Yes
• I have identified goals that are specific, measureable, achievable, relevant and time-limited?
  No / Sort of / Yes
• I have identified both long and short term goals to help me get to my preferred future?
  No / Sort of / Yes

If you did not answer a full yes to these questions, completing one or more of the activities in this section could be useful to you. If you answered yes to all questions you may wish to move to the final section on Implementing My Plan.

Your action plan should include both short-term (achievable in one year or less) and long-term goals (achievable 1-5 years) and a plan to ensure you are taking advantage of opportunities, reflecting on your experiences, celebrating successes and making adjustments to meeting your overall objectives or clarifying your focus. Once you have identified short and long term goals, identify action steps that will help you achieve the goals. Ensure that you are realistic about the time and effort necessary for each step.

Remember to consider challenges you might face along the way so you can plan in advance how to address these and access support as necessary. While you are action planning keep in mind your "Plan B" or parallel plan so you can adapt seamlessly if necessary.

Action Planning Resources (PDF)

• A Guide to Planning Your Career (Page 43) (Manitoba Career Development)
• UC Berkeley Career Development Action Plan

It's time to start working toward your career vision and implementing your plan.

View the questions below to see if this section is really for you. This section will help you implement your career plan and address challenges you may experience along the way (from the Canadian Career Development Foundation Career Planning Guide).

Is this section really for you?

• I have an action plan that is ready for implementation?  
  No / Sort of / Yes
   
• I have identified a "Plan B" to remain adaptable?  
  No / Sort of / Yes
   
• I have identified potential challenge and possible supports to address these challenges should they arise?  
  No / Sort of / Yes

If you did not answer a full yes to these questions we suggest you move to the section on Setting Goals.

Accessing Supports

During the implementation process it is important to access all the supports available to you. Consider your personal network - family, friends, teachers and professors as well as supports within the university community – Career Services, Academic Learning Centre, Academic Advisors, and Student Counselling Centre to mention a few.

Visit your plan often to evaluate whether you are still on track, celebrate successes and determine if any changes are required. Assess what you have learned from the activities you have engaged in and determine if your plan needs to be adjusted based on this new information about you, your preferences and things you are drawn to.

As you get closer to your identified long term goals you may be able to add additional action items and identify new opportunities and supports to help you achieve your goals.

If at any time you feel stuck or unsure how to get where you want to go contact Career Services. If you have already accessed our services call for an individual appointment.