Making a career plan

A career plan is a short programme in which you think ahead about your future working path and put it on paper. There is no single model for everyone: each person’s plan turns out differently depending on their knowledge, interests and values, but a good plan usually has five parts. The first is the goal: in which field you want to work, what you want to become and how this work benefits people. The second is an honest self-assessment: whether your interests, abilities, health and willpower are enough to reach this goal. The third is the route: where to study after grade 9 (grades 10–11, a vocational school, a college or technical school, and later higher education), where to test yourself and how to raise your skills. The fourth is back-up options: if the first choice does not work out, having a second and third route ready saves both time and nerves. The fifth is self-development: which books to read, which club or course to attend and how to strengthen your health. A plan should not be written once and left on a shelf: as knowledge and experience grow, review it and make it more precise.