Stop Planning Your Career Wrong

​"Where do you see yourself in five years?"
 
If you've ever stumbled with this question, perhaps a more non-traditional answer will be impactful. Because the entire five-year premise is flawed.

Like so many others, I used to create elaborate 5-year business plans. I had color-coded spreadsheets, actionable key points in timelines, and contingency backup plans.  Then the market shifted. In response I reorganized my company, Career Advancement Employment Services Inc., because my priorities changed. And as a result, my wonderful plan became completely irrelevant.
 
That taught me that, when you have a plan, you better be prepared to pivot. More than once.  
And so it makes sense that, in a fast-changing employment environment, rigid career plans can be career killers.
 
The Problem with Traditional Career Planning
 Most career advice will tell you to:

• Pick a destination (specific title and / or salary at a specific age)
• Map the path backward
• Execute the plan
• Expect success

 
This may have worked years ago, but it doesn't work today. Because: 

• Industries transform faster than you can plan
• Companies reorganize constantly
• Your skills become outdated quickly
• Your personal priorities evolve
• Opportunities you can't predict will emerge

The problem is that a 5-year plan assumes stability, but we unfortunately live in chaos.
  
The Better Approach: 18-Month Career Planning
 Instead of rigid long-term plans, let’s consider shorter 18-month intervals.
 
Here's the basic framework:
 
Plan 1: Clarity (Months 1-6)
 Define what you want from this period:
 

• What skills do you want to build?
• What experiences do you need?
• What relationships would be valuable?
• What would make this year successful?

 
Don’t look for job titles or specific companies. Just focus on skills, experiences, and relationships.
 
 Plan 2: Action (Months 7-12)
 Now execute your strategy:
​

•  What current or new role will get you those skills and experiences?
• Who do you need to connect with?
• What projects can you take on right now?
• What gaps do you need to close between desired and actual results?

 
And this might mean: taking a lateral move, taking on a stretch project, achieving a new certification, or even staying put for a while to build new needed capabilities.
 
 Plan 3: Reassess (Months 13-18)
 Time to evaluate and adjust:
 
•    What did you learn so far?
•    What has recently changed in the market?
•    What do you want next?
•    Is it time to pivot and plan again, or to dig deeper on your progress so far?
 
And then you start the next plan with this new information.
 
 Why This Approach Works.
Because it’s:

• Flexible enough to adapt to change
• Specific enough to guide decisions
• Short enough to stay motivated, and
• Long enough to make real progress

 
Think of it this way:
 
Plan 1: You wanted to build strategic thinking skills and strong industry relationships.
 
Plan 2: You volunteered for a cross-functional initiative that put you in front of senior managers, even though it wasn't a promotion.
 
Plan 3: Those developed relationships led to an opportunity that you never saw coming. For example, a senior role in a different division.
 
While you didn't plan that specific outcome, you did position yourself for good outcomes to occur.
 
And that's the difference.
 
 Three Career Moves That Actually Work:
 
1. The Skill-Building Lateral
Take a same-level role that builds critical capabilities. This may feel like you are going sideways, but it sets you up to leap forward.
 
2. The Visibility Stretch
Don’t wait to be “ready”, volunteer for high-profile projects now or you might miss the opportunity.  The exposure can accelerate your progress.
 
3. The Strategic Sacrifice
Temporarily take less money and / or a lower title to gain experience in the short-term that will triple your value in the long-term. (Changing industries, join startups, etc.)
 
All of these three moves require thinking BEYOND your next job or promotion. People rarely do.
 
 You Can Start Work on Your 18 Month Plan Right Now.
 Answer these three questions:
 
SKILLS:
Identify 2-3 specific skills that would make you significantly more valuable?
What skills do people earning $X more than you possess and use?
 
EXPERIENCES:
What would be the job description for the role that you want two years from now?
What experiences would you need to compete for your dream role?
 
RELATIONSHIPS:
Who are 10 people who could open doors for you?
Consider people who are where you want to be, or who hire for roles you want.
 
Now ask yourself - what's the one move that gets you closest to all three?
 
That's your 18-month strategy.
 
  
GET STARTED:
 
Audit your current role. Is it building the skills that you will need next, or is it just keeping you busy?
 
Identify your "skill gap." Look at 5 different job descriptions that relate to your target role. What keeps showing up that you don't have?
 
Evaluate your network. Write down 20 people in your network. How might they help you. Who's missing that you should add? Who should you reconnect with?
 
Have one career conversation. Ask someone who's 2-3 years ahead of you with the same trajectory: "How did you get from X to Y?"
 
A question for you to reflect on:
 
If you could only build ONE skill this year that would dramatically increase your value, what would it be? (Hint: It's probably not a technical skill.)
 
 Now here’s the rare blatant pitch:
 
Think About Working with Me
 
Most people spend more time planning their vacation than planning their career. And then they wonder why they're stuck.
 
If you're ready to get strategic about your career, I can help.
 
I work with career professionals who are:
 

• Struggling to open the “right” doors
• Stuck in a role that's not building the skills they need
• Interested in developing and presenting their true value (via both soft and technical skills)
• Ready to make a move but not sure which direction
• Doing well but not yet positioned for the next level
• Would benefit from objective advice, support and coaching
• Ready to compete

 
 You can start by booking your free career strategy session via the Contact Us page on our website Career Advancement Employment Services Inc. – link in my LinkedIn profile
 
In 30 minutes, we'll discuss:
 

• what's actually holding you back
• what might be possible solutions
• whether working together makes sense

 
Not a “sales call” from either of us. Just a conversation.
 
You can waste time waiting for the “right opportunity, or you can CREATE the right opportunity."
Your career isn't something that happens TO you. It's something you build.
 
Do you have a plan?