Why is career planning important? Key benefits explained

Are you someone who needs to have a plan, or do you prefer to live spontaneously? If you’re the latter, you may have asked the question, “Why is career planning important?” While you don’t need to plan every detail of your career, having a clear understanding of your goals and priorities can provide you with helpful direction. Career planning empowers you to keep moving forward on your professional journey.

This guide will go over some major benefits of career planning, and we’ll answer the following questions:

• What is career planning?

• Why is it important to start career planning now?

• What are some tips to plan for your career?

What is career planning?

Career planning is the process of setting professional goals and determining the steps you can take to achieve them. Think of a career plan as a map to follow for your professional growth and development. Career planning usually involves assessing your skills, interests, and passions and identifying jobs that allow you to use them.

When you plan for your career, you may think about the big picture or where you’d like to be in the next 10, 15, or 20 years. While career planning should include high-level goals, like earning a promotion or starting your own business, it also involves making short-term goals you can use as a ladder to success.

Why is career planning important?

When you know where you want to be, you can determine how to get there. Career planning can be beneficial for anyone, whether you’re a recent graduate, an established professional, or someone who wants to make a transition. 

Some advantages of career planning include the following:

1. Specific goals

You may have a general idea of what you want your future to look like, but career planning can give you specific goals to work toward. You can create both short- and long-term goals to outline a plan for your career. Additionally, set benchmarks to keep you on the right track. When you stray from your goals, you can look at your career plan and make adjustments.

2. Career direction

A career plan can provide some much-needed direction for your professional journey. With a career plan, you can decide what path you’ll take to accomplish your long-term goals. It can provide guidance about the jobs you should apply for and the skills you should gain. You don’t need to waste time on professional pursuits that don’t align with your goals.

3. Clarity about priorities

Planning your career involves identifying your priorities, or what’s most important to you in a job. For example, you may value earning a high salary, or you may want to lead others in a management role. When you know your priorities, you can go after opportunities that fulfill you. At the same time, you can avoid roles that conflict with your wants and needs.

4. Awareness of gaps

When you look broadly at your career plan, you can identify gaps that may prevent you from reaching your goals. These gaps may include a lack of education, experience, or skills. Knowing these gaps can allow you to take actionable steps to overcome them. For example, you may choose to earn a degree or complete a certification to gain the necessary skills for your future career.

5. Measurable progress

Having a career plan can empower you to make progress toward your goals. Rather than staying stagnant in your career, you can continually work to improve yourself. It’s helpful to find measurable ways to track your progress to stay motivated. If you want to become a project manager, for example, you may set a goal to become certified and commit to studying for 10 hours each week.

6. Job satisfaction

If you don’t have clear career goals, you may find yourself stuck in a job that doesn’t match your passions or motivations. As a result, you may become discouraged or even resentful. On the other hand, knowing that you’re working toward your long-term career goals can give you a deeper sense of satisfaction. You can appreciate your job more because you know it’s aligned with your future goals.

7. Risk management

Many factors can affect different industries, such as economic conditions and technological advancements. It’s impossible to predict every scenario that may impact your future career. When you have a plan, however, you’re better prepared to handle those challenges or uncertainties. You can make adjustments to manage risks and stay on the path you’ve identified for your career, even if it looks a little different from what you imagined.

8. Professional autonomy

If you wait for someone else to tell you what to do or give you a promotion, you’re essentially handing your career over to them. Career planning gives you professional autonomy. In other words, it allows you to determine when and how you’ll grow professionally. By taking control of your career, you can take steps toward your goals without waiting for someone to give you permission.

Tips for planning your career

If you know why career planning is important but you haven’t done it yet, there’s no better time to start than now. Follow these tips to begin making a career plan:

Create SMART goals

Whether you’re setting short- or long-term goals, you need a way to hold yourself accountable. Setting SMART goals can give you the tools to measure your progress and stay motivated. This acronym stands for:

• Specific. Instead of having vague goals, identify the specific targets you want to reach. For example, instead of a goal to get a high-paying job, you may set a goal of making $90,000 per year.

• Measurable. Determine the measurable ways you can monitor your progress toward your goals. Using data gives you a clear way to track your efforts.

• Achievable. Set goals you can realistically achieve. It’s great to have big dreams, but if you can’t reach them, you may get discouraged.

• Relevant. Your short-term goals should align with your long-term goals. Avoid setting smaller goals that won’t get you closer to your dream career.

• Time-bound. Establish a deadline and hold yourself to it. A deadline provides some additional motivation to accomplish your goals.

Document your plan

As you make a plan, document your goals and the steps you’ll take to work toward them. You can write your plan down on a piece of paper and keep it near your workspace, so you see it every day. You can also document your plan digitally on a computer, tablet, or phone. Either way, this documentation can make your plan feel real and achievable.

Find resources

Identify resources you can use to make progress on your goals. There are many career resources available online, such as job boards, professional networking sites, and skills development classes. You can also find career-related articles and inspiration on different websites, such as Career.io’s Career Advice blog. Use these resources to your advantage as you plan for your career.

Get feedback

Once you have a plan, get feedback from people who can offer perspective and advice. These people may include close friends or family members. You can also seek feedback from professional mentors, colleagues, or former bosses. Working with a career coach can be another great way to create, implement, and assess your plan for success.

Evaluate consistently

Your career plan isn’t set in stone. In fact, it will probably change several times as you advance in your career, learn new skills, and expand your network. Your goals or priorities may change as well. For these reasons, evaluate your plan regularly. Make an appointment on your calendar to review your career plan and make sure it continues to align with your long-term goals.

Want to take control of your career with a clear, actionable plan? Use Career.io’s Career Pathways tool to plan for your career in minutes, not months, and chart your path for success! 

Key takeaways

1. Career planning involves making both short- and long-term goals to identify a path for your professional development.

2. Benefits of career planning include setting actionable goals, having a clear direction, and feeling satisfied with your work.

3. Having a career plan can help you better navigate challenges and allow you to take control of your professional growth.

4. As you plan for your career, set SMART goals, find resources, and get feedback from people you trust. Also, evaluate your plan consistently, as your goals may change over time.