How to Create Your Professional Development Plan for 2023
Inside: Guest post from Joyce Wilson of Teacher Spark on creating a professional development plan to crush your career goals in the year ahead.
Whether you want to move up in your current company or switch industries entirely, having a detailed professional development plan will help you get there. Here’s everything you need to know about creating a plan that actually works.
Assess Your Skills
The first step is assessing your current skills and experience. This will help you set realistic goals for yourself and identify the areas where you need improvement. Start by making a list of all of the skills you currently have. Then, assess your skill level in each area on a scale of 1-10. Once you have a good understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, you can start setting goals.
To get started, check out this list of transferable skills.
Set SMART Goals
Your goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). In other words, don’t set goals like “I want to be happier” or “I want to make more money.” Instead, try something like “I want to land a job as a marketing manager within the next six months” or “I want to increase my salary by $5,000 within the next year.”
Build Your Knowledge Base
To achieve your goals, you may need to get additional training or education. For example, if your goal is to become a marketing manager but you don’t have any previous experience in marketing, you may need to take some courses or get a certification. There are endless online resources available, you need to find the right fit for you.
Switch Things Up
As you work towards your goals, there’s a good chance that your professional roles will change. For example, if your goal is to become a project manager but you’re currently working as an entry-level engineer, you may need to take on additional responsibilities at work or even switch companies entirely. Don’t be afraid of these changes; they’re essential for career growth.
Learn more about job crafting here.
Track Your Efforts
It’s wise to track your progress as you work toward your goals so that you can make necessary adjustments along the way. Keep a detailed journal of all of the steps you’re taking and the progress you’re making. This will help keep you motivated and on track. At the end of each month, sit down and assess how far you’ve come and what still needs to be done.
Create a Standout Resume
A well-crafted resume is essential for landing interviews and impressing potential employers. Plus, even if your professional development plan has you staying within your existing company, it’s helpful to have a resume to share with other departments or senior leaders not familiar with your work.
To get things started you can consider using an online resume builder or find a new resume template here.
Build Your Business
Perhaps your ultimate end goal is to launch a business. The first step is to develop a business plan. This should include a clear description of the business, its goals, and its operating procedures. Next, it is important to secure financing. This may involve taking out loans or investing with personal savings.
Once the financial foundation is in place, the next step is to develop a marketing strategy. This will help to ensure that potential customers are aware of the business and its products or services. It’s also important to network with other businesses and individuals in the community to generate leads and build partnerships that can be beneficial for long-term success.
You’ll also need to choose a business structure that works for your company. An LLC offers tax benefits, and your personal assets will be protected in case there’s ever litigation against your business. To get started, learn how to form an LLC in Massachusetts.
Plan to Succeed This Year!
When you take the time to assess your strengths and weaknesses, set goals, and identify actionable steps to reach those goals, a professional development plan can be your map to success. Furthermore, by regularly revisiting and revising the plan, you can ensure you’re on track to achieving your goals. While creating and following a professional development plan requires time and effort, the benefits far outweigh the costs.
Tired and stressed from your job? Next Chapter Careers can help you find a more fulfilling and flexible career!
Joyce Wilson is a retired teacher and enjoys sharing lesson plans, resources, and teaching tips on Teacher Spark. Her website is a compilation of practical resources that will inspire student engagement and instill a love for learning. By tapping into a student’s natural creativity and curiosity, Joyce believes that they can take their education to a new level.
