Planning for and managing your career matters, when it supports your wellbeing and motivation. Having a career can at its best mean that you lean towards the things that you are interested in and that have a meaning for you. You can look at career advancement as a part in the process of living a life that is more like you.
A plan for your career also supports fulfilling your career goals and helps with updating your skills according to the changing work environment. It gives you the chance to have a say in your life, make decisions that are based on facts and to dream big - about a career that looks like you and is full of meaning.
How to make a career plan?
For the best inspiration and to get your thoughts captured, try and arrange some peaceful time alone with your pen and paper. Another option is to plan with a friend, so you can continue with the first draft on a walk with a trusted friend.
Did you know that MiB has a community of non-Finnish speaking mothers? Join our events and come to our CV-clinic in April, 2024, to meet other career-minded moms and to change ideas. You can find a perfect match, another mom to share your career thoughts with.
Answering the following questions can help you draft this years’ career plan that is based on your strengths and skills and the things that you are interested in. The exercise will also help you balance your work and other life.
Ready? Let’s start.
Reflection
What kind of strengths, skills and knowledge do I possess? How could I get the best use of these skills this year? Which achievements gave me the most last year? What was rewarding, what made me flourish? How could I add more of these experiences to my life?
What do I need to learn? What kind of skills do I wish to gain this year and in the long term?
What are the most important values for me in my life? Am I able to live life according to the values? How does the work impact in this? You can start by using this tool for finding out more about your values.
Long-term career goals
Which aspects about my career currently make me content? Can I find meaning in the work tasks? What do I wish to change (e.g. work tasks, job, area of expertise)?
Where do I want to be on my career path after three, five or ten years?
What do I want to focus on this year, so that the future goals are possible?
Skills development
Which new skills would I like to learn this year? What kind of training and events would I like to attend? Would it be time for a certification, skills badge or a diploma?
What is happening in my field right now? What things I am eager to learn more about?
How can I utilize my skills when moving forward in my career, in the current workplace or when looking for new opportunities?
Could I need a mentor to walk with me this year, or could I be a mentor for someone else - a path that also can help clarify your best skills.
Networking
Who are the people that I would like to meet this year - and from which organizations? Whom can I help, who can help me on my career path? What kind of networking events and online resources can I access?
In which platforms (e.g. LinkedIn, professional platforms) could I highlight my skills and knowledge?
Transitioning to a new field
Who are the people that I would like to meet this year - and from which organizations? Whom can I help, who can help me on my career path? What kind of networking events and online resources can I access?
In which platforms (e.g. LinkedIn, professional platforms) could I highlight my skills and knowledge?
Work and family
How do I reconcile work and family this year? What kind of services would be helpful? Are we sharing the home chores and meta work equally enough between the parents? What kind of strength is family and work for me - how would I like it to change?
Does the current role, workplace and team support work-life balance? If not, could I find a spot where the balance would be better? How do I manage my time this year, so that I can focus better on the things that matter at home and at work? What kind of limits do I have to set so that I can take care of my wellbeing?
Advancing in your career takes courage
Finally: be brave in your career!
When you start and realize what the next steps are for you, bravely make small and big decisions and experiments that support these steps. Seize opportunities that help you prove your knowledge and move forward in your career.
Remember to balance your planning with embracing new possibilities and the change of something unexpected. Sometimes you make a bad decision, but once you have dealt with the situation, you will learn new things (also about yourself). And you can always make a new plan.
Career plans for a mother tend to succeed best, when they include flexibility and take into account that there are priorities in life, career and family that may change in time. When you re-evaluate and fine tune your plan regularly, it can help you create a balance between work and other life.
Did you know, that MiB has a community of non-Finnish speaking mothers? Join our FB channel and come to our CV-clinic in April, 2024, to meet other career-minded moms and to change ideas.
Support for career advancement
If you need support for career development, join Mothers in Business community as a member! We offer skills development, networks and peer-support to our members, and advocate for a more family-friendly worklife. Yearly membership fee is 40 euro and it covers all the above mentioned.
Read more: https://www.mothersinbusiness.fi/welcome
Author:
Susanna Bergendahl
Communications Manager, MiB ry
Mothers in Business (MiB) is an organization for all mothers who are interested in their career. MiB's goal is an equal and family-friendly working life. Every year, we organize hundreds of events in different parts of Finland that develop professional skills and increase well-being. The group of more than 4,000 MiB mothers guarantees peer support and the growth of valuable networks.
