Career Development Report: Steps, Analysis, and Future Plans

This report delves into the multifaceted process of career development, emphasizing the importance of proactive planning and self-assessment. It begins by defining career development as a lifelong journey of managing, learning, and transitioning to achieve personal and professional goals. The report outlines the critical steps involved in creating a career development plan, including defining short-term and long-term goals, conducting a gap analysis to identify areas for improvement, and creating a development plan with actionable steps and timelines. The report also includes a personal career development plan, detailing the individual's strengths, areas for development, and specific activities to achieve their career aspirations, along with a detailed analysis of their current position, short-term and long-term goals, and the strategies to achieve these goals. The report underscores the importance of continuous self-assessment and adaptation to achieve sustained career success.

CAREER GUIDANCE
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................4
Career Development Theories.........................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13
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INTRODUCTION
The lifelong process of managing, learning, processing the work, and transition so as to move
towards to the personally determined and evolving preferred future is known as career
development. There are many phases of career from where an individual has to pass and it is
necessary that he should remain determined regarding the future aspects. Managing career plan
and following the same is a very crucial task attached with any individual. It is necessary that
proper path should be adopted to manage the career plan developed by an individual so that goals
and objectives could get achieved and one could sustain in attaining success in his career. Hence,
a report is developed which will provide better set of information related with career
development plan. Every single aspect related with career development will be taken into
consideration in the report which will ensure to provide appropriate and relevant set of
information related with career development and will help in making appropriate set of decisions
regarding future aspects. The report will provide a guidance of how a proper and effective career
development plan could be developed, what are the aspects required to be taken into
consideration while developing a career development plan and how changes in near future could
get managed so as to attain success in a lifecycle.
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DISCUSSION
Career development is one of the most important aspects attached with the lifecycle of an
individual. It is required that one should develop his focus towards to develop an effective career
development plan so as to sustain in near future (Davis, Thwaites, Freeston & Bennett-Levy,
2014). Managing things in a relevant way will provide a proper set of support in achieving the
targeted objectives. It is important that one should remain determined towards his career in
which he should gather the information related with what he is doing in the present situation and
what he is going to do in near future. Past experiences of an individual help in learning many of
the things, it is required that one should learn from the past experiences. Doing so will provide a
relevant set of support in developing an effective future and will support in developing a future
growth plan in an appropriate way (Creed & Hughes, 2012).
In this section of the report I will avail information related with my career development plan in
which various analyses will be done. My career development plan will include some of the past
experiences and will provide information related with how I have learned from my past
experiences. What were the aspects which helped me in managing my life goals and made me
determined toward them? One of the most important aspects required to be focused upon by an
individual is determination towards developing a better future. Analysing the situation and past
experiences support an individual in becoming more determined towards future and provides an
effective set of support to develop a better future plans (Brown, 2014).
STEPS TO CREATE CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLAN
There were certain steps which were followed by me so as to develop my career development
plan. Following all the steps in aproper way helps an individual in gathering relevant set of
information related with how an effective career development plan could be prepared and what
are the things required to be focused upon so as to develop a proper and relevant set of career
development plan. Hence, the step followed by me to develop my career development plan is:
Figure Out Destination
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The first step required to be followed by every single individual is figuring out the destination
(Bronfman, 2015). It is being said that an individual should not take a road trip until he do not
have any idea of the destination where he want to go. In the same manner it is required that an
individual should have a vision and mission regarding the destination on which he want to reach.
There are several set of questions which helped me in determining my destination and these
questions are:
Where do you want your career to be in two years?
This question will help in determining the short term goals of an individual (Ali & Menke,
2014). It is necessary that one should have a set vision of where he wants to see himself in the
next two years. Determining the short goals helps in managing the future aspects and provides a
proper set of support in achieving the set goals and objectives. It is easy to determine the short
term goals because we have proper set of information regarding what we are doing in present and
where we can reach in the next two years.
Where you want your career to be in next five years?
Determining the career objectives in next five years helps in determining the long term goals. It
is necessary that long term goals should be determined by an individual (Wöhrmann, Deller &
Wang, 2013). In a lifecycle of an individual things and situations keeps on changing with the
passing time but if he wants something to achieve and stay determined then he could achieve the
future goals in a proper way. Hence, it is necessary that the next five year career plan should be
developed with full determination so that an individual can achieve the long term goals and
attain success in life.
What makes these targets resonant for you?
Third question is to evaluate that whether the targets set by an individual are resonant or not.
Failing to develop resonant career goal will not get fulfilled as an individual will fail in achieving
such type of goals (Watson & McMahon, 2008). One should not develop the future goals just for
the sake of others, it is necessary that he should have a clear idea of what he is planning and want
and accordingly should develop the plan for the future aspects.
Do A Gap Analysis
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Second step required to be followed to develop an effective career development plan is doing a
gap analysis (Velleman, 2007). Gap analysis is the process which helps in determining the gaps
and loops means the aspects which could have a huge impact on the progress of the career. It is
necessary that all the gap and loops should be evaluated in a proper way and strategies should be
developed to fill these gaps. Gap analysis compare the actual position with the futuristic aspects
so as to gather appropriate set of information regarding the gab in the plans.
Gap analysis will support in evaluating the gap between two year plan and 5 year plan.
Analysing the gap and removing the same will help in obtaining both the goals and will provide
a better set of option for the growth in near future. Hence, it could be evaluated that gap analysis
should be done in a proper way so as to evaluate the gap between the goals developed for short
and long term (Stadter, 2015).
Create Your Development Plan
Third step is to create a development plan. It is required after analysing the gap which could have
an impact on the progress in the career and after removing all the gaps a proper development
plan should be developed by an individual. The development plan should include every single
aspect related with the career in a logical order means all the plans should be set according to the
work required to be processed (Spafford & Haarhoff, 2015). It is necessary that an accountability
should be maintained in the plan means the activities identified related with the career
development should be provided proper set of dates of completion.
It is necessary that track on every single activity should be kept; the plan should be tracked
minimum for two times a year (Sharf, 2013). This will help in placing all the plans in a right
order and will provide a set direction for growth. Keeping track record of every single activity
will help in managing the work and will provide better set of opportunities so as to obtain every
single goal and objectives determined in the plan. Hence, it could be evaluated that developing a
proper career development plan and tracking it on time will help in fulfilling career development
requirements and will help in attaining success in near future (McMahon & Watson, 2007).
These were certain steps which were followed by me to develop a proper career development
plan. These steps provide me relevant set of guidance at every single stage of my development
plan and helped me in maintaining accuracy and quality in the same (McGinn, 2015). I still
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follow all the steps in a proper way and work towards to obtain the objectives and goals targeted
by me.
Personal Career Development Plan
My Gifts and
Talents
What I Think I can
be Best At
My Passion
What I Love and
Desire Professionally
My Contribution
How I want to
Contribute to
Society
My Personality
My Personal
Preferences
I am kind of a
person who is people
oriented and I feel
comfortable while
working with others
and like to focus
upon the human
tasks while executing
the tasks given to
me.
I ensure to provide
guidance and support
to others so that they
can achieve their
targeted goals.
I prefer to unleash the
talent in others and
help them in
performing more
effectively (Gould,
2017).
I remain steady to
perform any kind of
task related with my
career growth.
Career Step Areas of
Strengths
Areas to Develop Development
Activities
Now Current Position
Team Leader
Effective Team
management
skills, Solving
clashes among
team members and
leading team
Problem solving,
thinking strategically,
managing
communication
system to process the
work effectively
Managing work
process system
Proper division of
work, Solving team
queries and
Short
Term
Short Term Goal
Manager at
Human Resource
Collaboration,
adapting change in
a proper way,
Solving the human
resource business
mastery and
Indulging in the
workshop with the
effect of which all the
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managing the
customer service
orientation.
Taking initiative
on the agreed
actions, seeks for
the responsibilities
of managing the
human resource
working at the
workplace.
Gaining in depth
knowledge of
human resource
functions.
understanding the
human resource
technical mastery.
Understanding the
importance of
recruitment and
selection aspects at
the workplace. It is
required to improve
and deepen the
knowledge about
human resource
development. It is also
required to produce
the professional and
high quality outputs.
communication
barriers could be
removed.
Workshop will be
attended to indulge in
the market research. It
is required to attend
the workshop for
gaining information
related with
understanding the
behavior of people
available in the market
(Eliason & Patrick,
2008).
Long
Term
Long Term Goals
Starting up my
own business
Introducing an
innovative idea for
the business plan.
Understanding the
criticality of the
business plan.
Gathering proper
set of funds for a
successful
business. Showing
good
communication
skills so that
interaction with
the people could
To ensure that the
capabilities of
developing the
business strategies
could be gained. It is
required that business
strategies should be
operationalised.
Understanding the
importance of funding
in managing a
business is required.
Such type of aspects
will help in
developing an
It is necessary that a
proper plan for the
business should be
developed.
Understanding the
requirement of the
market will also help
in providing a better
set of solution in
managing a business.
It is required that
forecasting should be
done with the effect of
which all future
aspects related with
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be done in an
effective way.
effective business
plan (Davis, Thwaites,
Freeston & Bennett-
Levy, 2014).
the business could be
evaluated.
The above career development plan helped me in providing a set direction following which I am
getting success in my life cycle. Before developing the career development plan I have taken all
the career development steps into consideration. These steps helped me in every single path of
my development plan and provided me proper set of guidance of every single activity related
with the development of my career (Daniel, 2016). Hence, it could be suggested that all the
aspects should be focused upon before indulging in a career development plan and all the pros
and cons related with the career plan should be evaluated.
Career Development Theories
Career development theories provides in depth information related with the career development
of an individual. It is required that an individual should try to gain in depth information related
with career development and should try to focus upon all the aspects which could help in
managing and developing an effective career development plan. A more effective and in depth
information could be shared by comparing various career development theories with my career
development plan (Creed & Hughes, 2012). This will help in providing a clearer image of how
effective my career development plan is?
Holland Theory
Holland theory helps in developing the understanding with the behavior of people. It provides
information related with the personality types of the people like realistic, investigative, artistic,
social, enterprising and conventional (Craig, 2009). Holland theory is sometimes also termed as
RIASEC. To develop a successful career development plan it is required that one should have a
proper set of information related with his own nature. It is required that he should understand
that what type of nature he actually owns. Evaluating my career development plan it could be
analysed that I am an enterprising person who remain indulged in the activities which could help
in becoming entrepreneur and prefer to develop positive as well as effective relationship with the
people available in the market (Bustin, 2010).
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Krumboltz Theory
John Krumboltz is a career theorist who has developed a Krumboltz theory which is also known
as planned happenstance. According to Krumboltz theory the indecisions remain desirable and
sensible as they help in allowing the opportunity for the clients to take benefits from the
unplanned events. According to John various set of events occurs in the life span of an individual
and if he will set the plans which are rigid then the career will get affected as he will not be
thinking of grabbing the opportunities and will prefer to move with the plans only. Hence, it is
required that plans should not be decided in advance so that opportunities could be grabbed and
success could be obtained (Burns, 2012).
Comparing Krumboltz theory with my career development plan it could be evaluated that I have
set targeted objectives following which will help me in managing my career on the other hand
according to the theory developing set plans will not result in providing effective results. It
means that the theory is just opposite to my career development plan and it does not match with
any of the aspects related with the same (Burns, 2008).
Career Construction Theory
Career Construction Theory is developed by Mark Savickas. According to the theory the career
of an individual is constructed on the basis of the work he or she do. Most of the time people
prefer to choose the career which they have experienced in their learning process and want to go
with what they are doing at present time (Brown, 2014). On the other hand in my career
development I have selected a different path as presently I am managing the team of 10 people in
the operations and want to move to human resource department as a manager and in long term
want to introduce my own business in the market. Reason behind this is that I want to learn how
to manage the people on the place where they perform the operations. By becoming human
resource manager I will learn how to understand behavior of people and learn that what type of
people should be recruited at the workplace. This will help me in hiring right people in my
business and managing them at the workplace in a proper way (Bronfman, 2015).
Social Cognitive Career Theory
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Social Cognitive theory is relatively a new theory of career development which is depended upon
three interrelated aspects which are how the basic academic and career interest develop, how
educational and career choices are made and how academic and career success is obtained. These
are the three aspects which are related with the career development aspects of an individual. On
the other hand the career development plan developed by me also follows all these aspects. All
the aspects are being focused upon by me so as to develop a proper and effective set of
information related with my future career (Ali & Menke, 2014).
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CONCLUSION
Understanding all the aspects related with career development a conclusion can be made that
every single individual should work on developing an effective career development plan.
Managing things in a proper sequence and planning the future progress will help in providing a
set direction to grow. Working on career development theories and evaluating every single
aspect of career development will help in managing the career in an appropriate and effective
way. It could also be evaluated that career plan of an individual should be developed according
to his learning so that all the things could get managed in a proper way and career could get
developed on the basis of it.
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