How to plan your career for success

It is not easy to box career into a single definition. For instance, a google search will turn up with many things ranging from job listings to jobs.

That’s mainly because career means different things basing on the context it is used; it may mean a job, while on another day, it is a series of jobs – a variety of life professional paths.

This means, somebody can change jobs periodically. But as they embark on this, they should do so based on important things that improve that career path.

Ms Daphine Kato, the principal of Kampala Parent’s School says one should be able to build his or her competencies basing on the ability shaped by educational background and skills to work.

“There are different types of competencies, technical, conceptual and interpersonal.,” she says.

She says, however, the most important competencies are those which are a requirement for every job, interpersonal, communication, problem solving, and conflict management and leadership skills. 

Planning your career
Ms Kato says career planning is an ongoing process of exploring your interests and abilities, strategically plan, design learning and action plans to help achieve your goals.

“Career planning is best done by individuals because they know what best they want but seeking guidance from a trusted person is very helpful,” she added.

The Kampala Parents School principal noted that building a career is a road map to your future. But she warned that it is simply a roadmap but not target which is quality of life one wants to leave.

Ms Jennifer Semakula Musisi, a lawyer and public administrator, says as one plans a career it is important to note that their future is unknown and cannot be predicted.

“Here today, gone tomorrow since the world is changing at a very fast pace making it difficult to plan a career with certainty. However, good planning enables an individual to make the future he or she wants to have rather than simply react to changes taking place,” she says.

She says when one keeps in mind that the future is uncertain, it will enable you to plan and acquire necessary skills that will make companies employ you easily.

Ms Musisi noted that career planning is a four-phase process involving setting personal goals and objectives, evaluating one’s strengths and weaknesses, analysing and choosing career opportunities plus reviewing them and updating career plans.

Objectives of career planning
Helps a person to identify the skills and qualities needed for both current and future jobs. Aligns and integrate personal aspirations with opportunities available in the events.

Helps develop new career paths and plans that point outwards from individuals in all directions not just words and also revitalizes a person who is experiencing stagnation in his or her career.

Provides a person with opportunity to develop himself or herself in his or her career.