Closing the Gap On Your Career Goals

Julie Shenkman
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If you still picture a steady progression up the ladder when you think of your career goals, it is time to shift your thinking. For most people, climbing the career ladder is no longer an option. The working world has changed so dramatically that linear career paths rarely exist, except as historical symbols.

But, without those trusty rungs to show the way, how do you figure out the next step in your career? How do you determine if you need to go to business school or graduate school? How do you identify your next job?

You could employ the dartboard method, or a Magic 8 Ball. Or, instead of struggling to find the next rung on that mythical ladder, you could identify your long-term career goals, and then focus on closing the gap between today and your future goals. By focusing on the long-term, and the skills and experiences you need to gain, you will increase your options and give yourself flexibility to operate in today's chaotic working world.

To determine your career plan, first write down your long-term goal. Then, do a Career Gap Analysis, by following these four steps:

Step One
Divide a blank sheet of paper into three columns. At the top of the left column, write: "Current Skills and Experiences." At the top of the middle column, write: "The Gap." Finally, at the top of the column on the right, write "Future Needs."

Step Two
In the right column, Future Needs, list the skills, education, abilities, and experiences you will need to be successful in the future you envisioned when determining your long-term goals. For example, if your future goal is to start your own business, you will need the following: knowledge of how to write a business plan, basic accounting or financial analysis skills, the ability to manage a group of people, experience in writing new business proposals, and marketing skills.

Step Three
In the first column, Current Skills and Experiences, list all of the skills, education, abilities, and experiences you currently have to offer. When making your list, be comprehensive. Include what you have learned through volunteer experiences, hobbies, and seminars.

Step Four
In the middle column, The Gap, list the education, skills, or experiences you need to close the gap between where you are now and where you plan to be in the future.

Now that you have identified your long-term goals and the elements in the gap, instead of focusing on the title or hierarchy of your next job, focus on the skills and experiences you will gain to close the gap. For example, if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you may look for a job that will strengthen your planning skills. You may consider an opportunity to work more closely with the marketing or sales department. Or, you may look for a specific type of leadership experience in your next job.

Don't overlook opportunities within your current organization. If your goal is to strengthen your skills -- instead of to climb that mythical ladder --you may find a lot more options internally than in an outside organization. As a known quantity, your current organization is more likely to risk letting you experiment with a new field of expertise. So, a lateral move within your organization could give you the opportunity to gain new skills and experiences.

To close the gap, you can also look for experiences outside of your job. Build your entrepreneurial skills by taking a workshop on business plans at your local Small Business Development Center. Volunteer to manage the financials for a small non-profit organization. Or, take some business classes at your local college or university.

By using a Career Gap Analysis, you can create your own unique, flexible career plan and banish the career ladder to the pages of history, where it belongs.

Shannon Bradford is a writer and coach, teaching people how to master their brains to succeed in their careers and businesses. She is the author of Brain Power and 15-Minute Career Change. Learn more about by clicking here: http://www.resumetoolbox.com/15-minute-career-changer.html.

© 2005 Shannon Bradford

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  • Oopaydo R
    Oopaydo R
    This is great advise. Your advise will  temporarily force me to forget all situations or circumstances that are intolerable for me and allow me to focus on my future, more pleasant needs.  I would like to put your advise to work and create a career plan to fill in the Gap from my hobbies of crafting, physical exercise and practicing nutrition and with using volunteer services to strengthen and enhance my retail and IT skills to  meet my future needs.  I appreciate that I will be focusing on the long term goal skills and experiences, this takes my mind away from the current intolerance of today.
  • Bobbie R
    Bobbie R
    I like the information given. The gaining of business acumen sounds daunting but worth a try. I'm not a good speaker but would like to be. I had one course in Accounting 101 and it required more work than any of my college classes. I would not want to do accounting but maybe with the help of computers it could be easier. Most things are done on a Microsoft computer and I am not used to that because I've only worked on a Mac. I've looked at a profile of a person I used to work with and her skills just keep rising and rising. I envy her so much and wish I could be like her.
  • Kate I.
    Kate I.
    THANKS FOR THAT INSIGHTFUL CALCULATION.THIS CAN PREVENT MANY FROM MEASURING OUT THEIR LIVES WITH COFFEE SPOONS BY WAITING FOR THE RIGHT JOB WHICH NEVER SEEMS TO COME.I CAN NOW THOUGHTFULLY STIR THE DEEP WATERS OF WHAT MY LONG-GOAL PROSPECT WILL BE AND FILL THE GAPS BY STRENGTHENING MY SKILLS AND USING THEM AS STEPPING STONES.IT IS EASIER TO SWING FROM ONE CAREER TO ANOTHER IN YOU SIDE OF THE WORLD,BUT NOT SO IN NIGERIA WHERE I COME FROM.I THINK I NEED A LITTLE INCENTIVE BY WAY OF HELP(FINANCIALLY)TO TAKE A COURSE IN SELF-RELIANCE AND TO EMPOWER OTHERS WHO ARE LESS PRIVILEGED.
  • Dawna Phillips
    Dawna Phillips
    Yes, I agree with Ms. B.Patra that most business at this time of downsizing and layoffs, do not take time to train or upgrade most of their employees. I think suggesting or having updated skills training sessions, would encourage loyal and long term employees to stay at a particular job
  • Carol B.
    Carol B.
    Yeah, I agree with Pamela Guthrie.  How can you start a business or go into a commission job when you don't have the funds?  I say this from a financial standpoint.  I use to make $48,000 annually; upon layoff went to $28,000 annually, and then unemployment.  We can't make it on my husbands income - well, rice and beans could do it.  I am thankful for unemployment, but that will run out.  I know that if somebody will show me processes, systems and ways and take a little time, I would be a far superior employee than many other people.  Why?  Partly, because I care.  Secondly, I love to learn; improve processes to do a better job; and solve problems, help people and do the best job I can.  Would I even be considered for employment?  Would I be given a little learning curve to end up being a great investment?  I wonder. So far, it's not looking good.
  • BRUNDABAN PATRA
    BRUNDABAN PATRA
    I AM VERY MUCH IMPRESSED WITH THE ABOVE ARTICLE.
  • Pamela Guthrie
    Pamela Guthrie
    Satisfy my wonderment here.  If I have lost my job, how can you expect me to consider going into business?  Especially when my outlook based on "personal confidence" has just been kicked directly in the stomach!  My company cuts my job and doesn't offer me any alternative to "their corporate" decision.My position is unique, as long as I am with my husband, money and job loss is not a problem.  However, should that situation change, I am in trouble financially as having lost my job, benefits and a means of self sufficency that I worked very hard for in the first place.  I retired in l998 from a job I had for 34 years at the same company and returned to the work place in 2005 upon retirement of my spouse.  Cobra premiums were not appealing as we entered the limited income situation.   Returning to work for benefits was the answer, so I did.  Computer skills is something I could use, I can hold my own as long as I am given instructions, however, it has been my experience in two departments to have been told they don't have time to teach me what I should already know.    Therefore computer skills is what would really help me now!   I loved my job and my place of work.  I was able to accomplish obtaining benefits and acquiring the personal satisfaction of doing exactly what I had set out to do.   This job loss has been a real bummer to me personally and it has really made me think that all the hardwork and effort was totally in vain.   I now do not care if I acquire another job at all.  I feel taken for granted and that my ignorance was all the excuse my employer needed to terminate me.  Now I am dumped into this unemployment mess and it is not fun out here!  My firm offered to have the HR Mgr. give verbal explaination of my termination but it concerns me that if she is not at her desk and the contact would need to return a call to her that they will not and my job opportunity could be lost.  If I want my unemployment I have to play the game.  I am heartsick but hanging in there!  I know I am not alone.    
  • Rebecca Hall
    Rebecca Hall
    There is a lot of useful ideas in the article.  Hopefully, during my current job search, I will be able to put some of them to good use.
  • Jacquelyn Alford
    Jacquelyn Alford
    I found the article useful and I completed the exercises. After completing the exercises I considered my job search, which has lasted nine months. The gap is closed. I only wish I knew how to garner positive, timely responses from reputable employers willing to hire. It's possible the exercise will bring a fresh perspective to the problem.

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