What do you want to be when you grow up?

Remember your parents and folks asking you this question when you were a kid, partly because of their genuine interest in what thrilled you at that time, partly because on many occasions answers were somewhat funny for the adults around. One thing is to hear your child want to be an astronaut, the other is to witness  your prodigy announcing they dream is to become a garbage truck driver. Not that being the latter represents something disgraceful. It is simply that have the tendency to imagine our kids being the better version of ourselves and driving a garbage truck might not be what we would ideally imagine to be the dream job for them to find fulfilment in life.

Yet at some point parents stop to ask this question.  With the child growing up and understanding more about how the world clicks, the answers become more serious, down to earth. Or there is no reasonable answer. And no reflection whatsoever. For years to come. Until young people graduate from college. Until they are practically on the verge of entering into an adult job market. The problem is, the question of “what to you want to do in your life” should be asked over and over again. By parents, by high-school teachers, by academics that a young person meets along their way. It is essential that this question is asked so as to stimulate the reflection on the professional objectives. In the long-term.

It is not about what the person wants to do next week, or next summer. Or even straight when they graduate. It is about what is that they want to be in live. Hence the famous interview question: where do you see yourself in five years? Five years, as I repeat on many occasions when lecturing on career development to students, represents a difference between what can be viewed as your more immediate and distant professional future.

But why at all long-term career planning is important? Well, career-wise things do not tend to happen overnight. Career is not an ultimate destination, a goal. It is a journey, a process. A path we follow in our professional life. Do you remember “Alice in Wonderland”? She had a meaningful conversation with a cat. When at the crossroads, she asked which was the way she ought to follow. The cat reflected that it depended on where she wanted to get to. Alice said she did not know. The cat then gave her a very resolute answer stating that it then did not matter which way she went. This very conversation has a tremendously important implication for your career. Without knowing who you want to be in the future, it will be nearly impossible to make good choices about your next career steps. Without knowing who you want to ultimately be in life, it will be hard to make a good decision of what you should do when you graduate. Career planning requires time. It all starts with reflection on what is that thing that makes us happy in life and if it is possible to make it part of our professional self.

So, do you see yourself creating next disruptive and game-changing products at Google? So be it. Start planning on what you need to do to get there now. Do you see yourself as professional sportsman. You′d better dedicate your time to practicing and then with a bit of luck you will join the ranks of Cristiano Ronaldo one day (assuming you started early). Whatever is your dream job, do not waste your time waiting and hoping that things will simply happen for you.

Your career is your responsibility. Find your destiny. Plan your path. And then walk the talk.

Ps. If by any chance you are living in Portugal and are either recent Masters graduate or finalist interested in pursuing career in management, you might be interested in our Management Trainee Programme 2016. We are now receiving applications for the programme that will start in July 2016. More information at www.campus.jeronimomartins.pt