Career planning: the role of the ‘fantasy CV’!

A great career requires not just the ability to do a good job. The most successful management consultants and other executives invest time in planning to build their own career.

It is challenging to find time in a high-pressure job to devote time and energy to career development. However, it is important to set clear goals and identify a strategy to achieve them.

How do you identify your key career goals?

One technique is to write your own ‘fantasy CV’ dated 5 or 10 years in the future. From this, you can map out the path you need to take to make this CV become reality.

  • By specific when you identify your goals. What do you want to achieve and by when?
  • Work back from your objectives to determine what you need to do to achieve these goals. Set target dates and deadlines.
  • Identify key points on the critical path to achieving your objective. These may include developing new skills, gaining different experience, further education or training.

Consider the career path of others who have achieved your chosen career goal and identify the skills they acquired to succeed. Then learn from their experiences where possible.

An additional comment here would be that every now and then you need to ask the “Life, The Universe and Everything” question ie what really matters to you in your life and therefore decide how your career is going to fit in with that.

Enlist supporters

Relationships with other people are a crucial success factor in career development. Build up a network of individuals who can help you to achieve your goals. Consider what you can offer in return because the most effective relationships require give and take.

Aim to:

  • learn from other people’s experiences,
  • benefit from the advice of mentors
  • seek constructive criticism of your own skills
  • enlist support for your career objectives

Focus on your ambition

Once you have spent some time identifying your goals and your supporters you can then pull the facets of your career plan together into ‘Project Career’.

It is especially important to measure your progress regularly against target dates and deadlines. Periodically you should review the plan and adapt it if necessary.

Finally, try to avoid being distracted by excessive workload and deadlines!

Summary

The key is:

  • setting clear goals
  • enlisting and influencing supporters
  • making time to focus on pursuing your ambitions.

FAQs

Planning and thinking about your career is crucial for success and your happiness. Consider where you might want to be in 10 years’ time with a realistic look at work/life balance, personal objectives and financial needs. Top, well paid jobs, even if you can get there, always come at a cost.
Relationships are a crucial success factor in career development. Build up a network of individuals who can help you AND advise you how to achieve your goals. You don’t have to be a classic “networker” but need to be on relevant people’s radar. Key also is recognising that the best relationships require give and take.
Annual progress checks help ensure alignment with goals. It is especially important to measure your progress regularly against target dates and deadlines. Periodically you should review the plan and adapt it if necessary.
Thinking medium to longer term (i.e. 5-10 years), setting clear goals, cultivating relationships with supporters, avoiding distractions, regular reviews of the plans, changing tack if necessary.

Subscribe to our blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.