How can you explore your career path with confidence?

1 Assess your skills

The first step to exploring your career path is to assess your skills. Skills are the abilities and knowledge that you can apply to perform tasks and solve problems. They can be divided into two categories: hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are specific and measurable, such as coding, accounting, or graphic design. Soft skills are more general and transferable, such as communication, teamwork, or creativity. To assess your skills, you can use various methods, such as self-evaluation, feedback, tests, or portfolios. You can also use online tools, such as SkillScan, CareerOneStop, or MySkillsFuture, to identify and rate your skills.

2 Explore your options

The next step to exploring your career path is to explore your options. Options are the possible directions and outcomes that you can pursue in your career. They can be influenced by various factors, such as your skills, interests, values, personality, goals, and market demand. To explore your options, you can use various sources, such as online databases, career guides, job boards, or industry reports. You can also use online tools, such as O*NET, CareerExplorer, or MyNextMove, to discover and compare different occupations and industries.

3 Research your target

The third step to exploring your career path is to research your target. Target is the specific occupation or industry that you want to pursue or learn more about in your career. It can be based on your skills, options, and preferences. To research your target, you can use various methods, such as online research, informational interviews, job shadowing, or internships. You can also use online tools, such as Glassdoor, LinkedIn, or Indeed, to find and analyze relevant information and insights about your target.

4 Set your goals

The fourth step to exploring your career path is to set your goals. Goals are the desired outcomes and achievements that you want to reach in your career. They can be short-term or long-term, specific or general, realistic or ambitious. To set your goals, you can use various frameworks, such as SMART, OKR, or GROW. You can also use online tools, such as Trello, Asana, or Evernote, to organize and track your goals.

5 Make your plan

The fifth step to exploring your career path is to make your plan. Plan is the strategy and action steps that you will take to achieve your goals and pursue your target in your career. It can include various elements, such as timeline, budget, resources, milestones, or contingencies. To make your plan, you can use various templates, such as SWOT, PESTLE, or PDCA. You can also use online tools, such as MindMeister, Google Docs, or Canva, to create and share your plan.

6 Review and adjust

The sixth step to exploring your career path is to review and adjust. Review is the process of evaluating and reflecting on your progress and performance in your career. Adjust is the process of modifying and improving your plan and actions based on your review and feedback. To review and adjust, you can use various tools, such as journals, surveys, or dashboards. You can also use online tools, such as Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, or Tableau, to collect and analyze data and feedback.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?