by Susan K. Maciak, Consultant, www.cameocareer.com
What’s your career plan? This question is often asked in disguise in job interviews. An interviewer is more likely to ask “Where do you see yourself five years from now?”
If you can’t see yourself anywhere in five or 10 years, you have no career plan. You need one. Don’t risk losing a job opportunity, because you don’t. Worse yet, don’t short-change yourself by failing to plan.
For a simple career plan, write down what you would like to be doing five or 10 years from now. Do you see yourself as a department head? Do you picture yourself at the same job, but as best in your field? Or do you want to finish graduate school and move from an entry level position to a specialist of some sort?
Write down your goal, then list all the steps you will take to reach it. When you’re done, you’ll have a career plan — and a much better shot at reaching higher heights throughout your career.
Be honest with yourself–but be careful what you tell a job interviewer. For example, if your career plan is to be in business for yourself within 10 years, you don’t want to spell that out to someone who hopes you’ll be with their company forever. Or at least until they decide to downsize!
A more general goal, such as “being in charge of a business” or “heading a company” will serve you better in the meantime.