Playing Career Plinko

Career planning is like a game of Plinko...

I often speak with professionals who aspire to take their career in different directions. If you find yourself in this position - "Career Plinko" might be a useful analogy.

Think about your daily work focus as your Plinko chip... and your ideal job as the reward at the bottom of the Plinko pegboard

Your Plinko chip is your current work: an oval you can shape

Your chip is your work-focus in your job:

• The center is round and predetermined, defined by the minimum duties required of your role - typically filling 50-90% of the total time
• The outer layer is an oval you can shape - this is where you can put in extra effort to make a difference

The Plinko pegboard is your career:

Your puck's outer oval is a chance to direct your "extra credit" work towards areas that helps you navigate towards your dream job:

• If you want to move up within your current job - find extra credit work that more senior resources typically complete
• If you want to pivot into a new area of the company - find extra credit work available that supports your targeted department (or as close of a customer as you can find)
• If you want to move into an entirely different field - find related duties in your job today and find education or training that will help you skill up

The puck's shape and movements are your opportunities

Shape: When planning your yearly objectives consider what extra efforts will help you achieve your career goals

Movements: When considering an unanticipated career opportunity ask yourself if your next position on the peg board would increase or decrease the distance to your dream job

This approach works across most roles and situations... conceptually with a series of planned Plinko moves - you can direct yourself towards your dream job.

Ready? Aim. DROP!