essay about career planning

What Is a Career Goals Essay?

An opportunity to expand, what to avoid in a career goals essay, final thoughts, how to write a career goals essay.

Updated January 15, 2024

All products and services featured are independently selected by WikiJob. When you register or purchase through links on this page, we may earn a commission.

As the name suggests, a career goals essay is a personal document that outlines your professional plans.

It describes your educational and work history, and your ambitions for the future.

A career goals essay is generally used in three situations:

• When applying to a school or college
• When applying for a scholarship to fund education
• When applying for a new job

It allows the reader to better understand your personality and fully appreciate why you are making the application.

Career goals essays help admissions staff and hiring managers to select the ideal candidates for a position.

What Should a Career Goals Essay Contain?

A little backstory.

This essay is an opportunity for you to allow your personality and experiences to shine, so avoid generic statements.

The document should be personal and concisely describe your life experiences.

You should explain why you have chosen this career path.

If there was a pivotal moment in your life that led you to this application, be sure to highlight it.

Outline Your Goals

The main focus of the essay should be your goals for the future.

Readers want to see that you are ambitious and driven, with a genuine passion for the role or course you are applying for.

These career goals should be split into your short-term goals (looking over the next one to three years) and your long-term goals (which might look as far as 10 years into the future).

Show How This Application Will Help You Reach Your Goals

Critically, your career goals essay must show how this degree or job will help you achieve your goals .

If your long-term goal is to become a veterinary surgeon, studying a veterinary medicine program will obviously be essential.

However, your goal may be more nuanced than that. For example, you might want to become an expert in a particular piece of technology or software. Your application must show how your success in this role will enable you to become an industry leader.

This will also emphasize to the reader that you have done your research and understand the skills required for that particular sector.

You will have likely submitted a CV and covering letter at other points throughout the application process.

Remember, your career goals essay should complement these documents rather than repeat them.

This letter allows you to expand on the points mentioned in the earlier documents, aligning your previous experience with your goals for the future.

If you are writing a career goals essay as part of an application for a new job, be sure to refer back to the job description and person specification.

These documents highlight the exact type of individual the employer is searching for, so be sure your career goals essay matches the content in them.

Most career goals essays will be submitted via email, so an appropriate title is essential.

‘The Career Goals of [Name]’ isn’t a title that will make you stand out from the crowd.

Don’t forget, whether you are applying to a school or an employer, the reader will have the job of sifting through hundreds, if not thousands, of applications .

Where candidates have very similar experiences and education, their creativity and personality will be used to make the final decision.

Example titles:

How a Digital Marketing Degree Will Allow Me to Support Sustainable Businesses

How My Next Role in Nursing Will Help Me Help Others

An Introduction

Your introduction should set the theme for the essay, and crucially, outline your why .

Many candidates find the introduction the most challenging part of the essay to write. Therefore, it often makes the most sense to write it last.

Your introduction should be an honest and personable account of why you have chosen this field of study.

Starting with a generic opening paragraph will not inspire or motivate your reader. Stay away from phrases such as “I have wanted to be a lawyer ever since I was a little girl.”

This sentence tells the reader very little about your current aspirations.

It can also damage your integrity, as we all know most small children dream of being a movie star or astronaut before the job of lawyer ever springs to mind.

Example introduction:

Most individuals in the US are lucky enough to never need the law to protect them. However, many fail to see how the intricate details of the constitution support their life every day. I have a particular fascination with criminal law after being introduced to the field by a family friend. The monumental impact a lawyer can have on the life and welfare of an individual truly astounded me, and I have spent the years since investigating the effects of the American legal system. This is why I have tailored my education so far to prepare me for a legal career. I work every day on developing my research and analytical ability, and now feel ready to dedicate myself fully to the legal field.

School-Specific Content

Admissions staff, tutors and hiring managers want to know that their applicants have done their research.

You can show them that you have done yours by adding a small paragraph straight after your introduction showing why you chose this school to study at or this company to work for.

First example of school-specific content:

[Insert company name] has an incredible global reputation, with clients in every continent. I can see that staff retention rates are incredibly high, indicating strong career opportunities and the prospect of continuous development. The company values show that diversity and integrity are of the utmost importance, and I would love the opportunity to work for an organization whose principles align with my own.

Second example of school-specific content:

[Insert school name] is well known for producing the highest caliber of graduates, with an excellent global reputation. The school leaderboards show that the grades from [insert school name] ranked within the top five in the country for the past 10 years. I would be proud to associate myself with an establishment that holds itself in such high regard and am thrilled at the prospect of learning alongside the best.

Your Long-term Vision

Remember, it is crucial you show why and how you are actively working towards these goals. For example, merely stating, 'My long-term goal is to become a lawyer with my own practice’ is worthless.

The reader wants to see how this goal aligns with your personality and why you have chosen this route.

The goals set out in this essay should be precise and meaningful .

Example of long-term vision:

Law is an area of study that affects us all. The law protects us, and I am fascinated by its impact on both an individual and global scale. Of course, I want to graduate with a top-class degree, but I am also passionate about the connections and network I will build along the way. My goal is to open my own practice one day, specializing in family law. At the moment, I volunteer in my local practice, gaining experience and building a network that will help me later in my career. I believe the combination of world-class education and hands-on legal experience will help me to achieve this ambitious long-term goal.

Your Short-term Vision

Next, it is crucial to discuss your short-term goals .

If you're applying to school, your short-term goals will explain what you aim to achieve throughout the degree or program.

For a job application, these goals will outline your targets for your first year in the role.

Example of short-term vision:

In the short term, my goal is to build a network in the legal sector. I have already begun doing this through my weekly volunteering role. However, this degree will undoubtedly allow me to meet a much broader spectrum of people. I am excited to curate this network with a range of legal specialists, from students at the start of their careers to tutors with many years of experience in the industry.

The Conclusion

As with any essay, your conclusion should summarize what you have discussed throughout.

You should not throw in any new ideas, subjects or theories at this point. Otherwise, it indicates to the reader that you have not cohesively written the essay.

Your conclusion should be about the same length as the introduction, mentioning your final goals and the name of the establishment you are applying to.

You must outline again why you want to work for this company or study at this school. Using a statistic or fact will show that you have conducted thorough research.

Example conclusion:

I am immensely excited to begin my experience with [insert school name]. Ultimately, this education will allow me to fulfill my dreams of becoming a lawyer and one day opening my own practice. I will bring hard work, determination and enthusiasm to the law school, never forgetting why I began this journey.

Vague or Weak Statements

Every sentence in your essay should be specific to you.

For example, statements such as ‘I want to study medicine because it will allow me to get a good job’ does not show the reader that you are passionate or enthusiastic about this position.

Discussing Financial Remuneration

Whether the essay is aimed at a prospective employer or a college admissions office, they want to see why you want the position personally.

Someone solely focused on the financial rewards will likely not have longevity in the career.

Controversial Topics

Of course, there will be times where politics and current affairs are relevant to the discussion.

However, showing a one-sided argument that doesn’t align with the readers can alienate your application before you even begin.

A career goals essay is an opportunity for your personality to shine through. It isn’t a test of who has the best grades or the most experience , but a chance to show how this job or degree can change your life.

Although the reader is excited to hear about your goals, they are more interested in how this role links to your ambitions.

Be sure to constantly reflect upon how obtaining a place on this course, or securing the job role, is intrinsically linked to your goals.

A word limit is often applied to career goal essays. Where there is no limit, be sure to write no more than 1,000 words.

This piece should be concise and to the point, showing the reader you can effectively convey your thoughts and ideas.

You might also be interested in these other Wikijob articles:

Or explore the Jobs & Careers / Career Planning sections.

How to Write an Awesome Essay About Your Career Goals

• Before you begin, ask yourself a few key questions like:
• What are my short-term and long-term career goals?
• Where do I see myself in ten years?
• What events in my life have led me to have these goals?
• What major will help me reach my goals?
• What skills do I need to reach my goals?
• What impact do I want to have on society?

Career Goals Essay Template

Need more inspiration.

After you brainstorm the responses to these questions, look for common themes, or pick out the most interesting stories. You can build your main essay “thesis” or idea around this.

Once you’ve got the main idea, create an outline to put your ideas into essay format. This will give you a general idea of structure.

You can use the career essays template below to give you some ideas. But remember that some rules are meant to be broken, so don’t be afraid to be innovative and think outside the box!

Also, when you’re done, head over to Going Merry to apply for the Career Goals scholarship essay bundle (one essay, one application, multiple scholarships!). You might as well make that essay count. Sign up for Going Merry to apply for scholarships more efficiently.

Here’s a paragraph-by-paragraph breakdown:

Paragraph 1 : Establish the main theme of what you’re going to talk about. It should also grab the reader’s attention. For example, instead of starting your essay with something generic (e.g. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a zoologist), get creative with it! Try something like My greatest memory as a young girl was going to the zoo for the first time or While most kids play house or school, I always wanted to play zookeeper.

Paragraph 2 : Elaborate on what inspired your career goals. Perhaps it was a relative, a TV show, or simply an experience that you had. Remember that old writing adage, “Show, don’t tell.” In other words, try to demonstrate your interest with story or description. 

Paragraph 3 : Discuss your short-term career goals and your intended major. How will your intended major help you reach these goals? What skills do you need to learn to reach them? At the end of the paragraph, try discussing how your short-term goals can help you achieve your long-term goals.

Paragraph 4 : Focus on your long-term goals and the impact that you hope to have on society. If you’re not sure what your long-term goals are, don’t sweat it; they’ll probably change anyways. You can instead focus on the difference you’d like to make overall. And don’t worry too much about the size of the impact…remember that just doing what you’re truly passionate about has a massive impact on those around you.

The last paragraph is your conclusion. You can use this paragraph to summarize what you discussed in the previous few paragraphs. If you want to be even more creative, try ending your essay with a question for your readers or a new insight. Good luck!

And now that you’re ready with that essay, put it to good use! You can recycle that same essay, when applying for the Career Goals Scholarship Bundle. We’ve joined together multiple scholarships (all requesting essays on career goals), into just ONE simple application! See more info here , or just sign up to get going.

Check out examples from other students just like you. Here are links to some great career goal essay examples:

• Example 1  
• Example 2  
• Example 3  

Or maybe you’re looking for help with an academic goals essay — we’ve got you covered there too.

Also, check out this helpful list of the 10 most common scholarship essay topics !

Sign up for Going Merry today, and upload your career goal essay right to your profile. It’s that easy!

• Recent Posts

• 7 Outstanding Oregon Scholarships for 2021 - November 6, 2020
• Great Scholarships for Students in Ohio for 2021 - November 4, 2020
• Great Scholarships for Students in Texas for 2021 - July 30, 2020

Ready to find scholarships that are a match for you?

Essay on Career Plan

Students are often asked to write an essay on Career Plan in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Career Plan

What is a career plan.

A career plan is a set of steps that helps you think about what job you want in the future. It’s like a map that guides you to choose the right classes and activities that will help you reach your dream job. It’s important to start planning early so you can be ready when it’s time to work.

Why Make a Career Plan?

Making a career plan is useful because it gives you a clear goal to work towards. It can help you make good decisions, like picking subjects that match the job you want. It’s a way to make sure you’re always moving forward towards your dream.

How to Build Your Plan

To build your plan, start by thinking about what you enjoy doing. Then, learn about jobs that fit those interests. Talk to people who do those jobs and ask for advice. Write down the steps you need to take, like which subjects to study, and follow them one by one.

Changing Your Plan

It’s okay if your interests change as you grow. Your career plan can change too. It’s a flexible guide that can adapt as you learn more about what you like and don’t like. Always be open to new ideas and opportunities that might come your way.

250 Words Essay on Career Plan

A career plan is a set of goals and steps that help you decide what job you want in the future. It’s like a map that guides you to the career you dream of. This plan includes what you need to learn, the skills you must have, and the experience you should gain.

Why is a Career Plan Important?

Having a career plan is important because it gives you direction. It helps you know what subjects to focus on in school and what kind of activities or jobs to try. Without a plan, it’s easy to get lost and not reach your job goals.

Steps to Make a Career Plan

First, think about what you love to do. Do you like drawing, solving math problems, or helping people? Your interests can give you clues about what jobs might make you happy. Next, learn about different jobs that match your interests. Talk to people who do those jobs, read about them, or watch videos.

Then, set clear goals. Decide what job you want in the future and write down the steps to get there. This might include finishing school, going to college, or getting special training.

Updating Your Plan

Remember, your interests might change as you grow, and that’s okay. It’s good to review your career plan regularly and make changes if needed. This way, your plan always matches what you want and who you are becoming.

In conclusion, a career plan is a powerful tool to help you reach your dream job. It’s a personal guide that keeps you focused and moving forward towards the career you want to have in the future.

500 Words Essay on Career Plan

A career plan is like a map that helps you reach your job goals. Just as a map guides you on a journey, a career plan helps you move from where you are now to where you want to be in the future. It involves thinking about what jobs you like, what you are good at, and setting up steps to get there.

Why You Need a Career Plan

Having a career plan is important because it gives you direction. Without a plan, it can be hard to know what steps to take to get the job you want. With a plan, you can figure out what you need to learn, what kind of experience you need to gain, and how long it might take you to achieve your goals.

1. Know Yourself The first step is to think about what you like to do and what you’re good at. Do you enjoy working with computers, or do you like to help people? Knowing your interests and skills is the starting point.

2. Explore Careers Next, find out about different jobs that fit your interests. You can talk to people who work in those jobs, look up information online, or read books about different careers.

3. Set Goals After you know what job you want, set some goals. These can be big goals, like becoming a doctor, or smaller goals, like taking a science class.

4. Make a Plan Now it’s time to make a plan. Write down the steps you need to take to reach your goals. This might include getting good grades, joining a club, or getting a part-time job.

5. Act on Your Plan The last step is to start working on your plan. This means studying hard, getting involved in activities, and maybe even volunteering or working in a job related to the career you want.

Changing Your Career Plan

It’s okay if your interests change as you grow up. Your career plan is not fixed; you can change it anytime. If you discover a new passion or find out more about a job that sounds better, you can update your plan to fit your new goals.

Getting Help with Your Career Plan

You don’t have to make a career plan all by yourself. You can ask for help from your parents, teachers, or school counselors. They can give you advice and help you understand more about different jobs and what you need to do to get them.

A career plan is a guide to help you find your way to the job of your dreams. It’s made up of knowing yourself, exploring options, setting goals, making a plan, and then taking action. Remember, it’s fine to change your plan as you learn more about what you enjoy and what you want to do. With a good career plan, you can work towards a future that excites you and makes you happy.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Career Path
• Essay on Career Opportunities
• Essay on Candle

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Explore Jobs

• Jobs Near Me
• Remote Jobs
• Full Time Jobs
• Part Time Jobs
• Entry Level Jobs
• Work From Home Jobs

Find Specific Jobs

• $15 Per Hour Jobs
• $20 Per Hour Jobs
• Hiring Immediately Jobs
• High School Jobs
• H1b Visa Jobs

Explore Careers

• Business And Financial
• Architecture And Engineering
• Computer And Mathematical

Explore Professions

• What They Do
• Certifications
• Demographics

Best Companies

• Health Care
• Fortune 500

Explore Companies

• CEO And Executies
• Resume Builder
• Career Advice
• Explore Majors
• Questions And Answers
• Interview Questions

Career Goals Essay For Scholarships (With Examples)

• Apply For A Job
• Applying To Multiple Jobs At The Same Company
• Applying for a Job In-Person
• Personal Mission Statement
• Corporate Titles
• Career Goals Essay
• Internal Applicants Only
• Vision Statement

Find a Job You Really Want In

Scholarship programs often want you to write a career goals essay to see that you have a clear plan for how you’ll apply your education to a specific career path. This helps show a scholarship committee why you’re seeking funds for the next step on the path toward your success.

Answering “what are your career goals” effectively can help increase your odds of impressing landing a scholarship opportunity. If you’re a prospective student applying for scholarships, this article will provide tips on how to write a career goals essay, along with essays on career goals examples to help you get an idea of what scholarship committees are looking for.

Key Takeaways:

When you’re writing a career goals essay, make sure to write about the goals that are relevant to the scholarship.

Be honest and use your own voice to stand out in your scholarship essay.

Go into detail about how the scholarship will help you achieve your goals.

What is a career goals essay?

Why scholarship essays ask about career goals, example career goals essay prompts, career goals essay examples, tips for writing a scholarship essay about career goals, what to write in a career goals essay if your goals have changed, career goals essay for a scholarship faq.

• Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs

A career goals essay is a personal written explanation that discusses your background, why you’re interested in participating in the program, and what career you’d like this degree to lead into. A scholarship essay functions to explain why you want to achieve your professional goals and how you intend to get there.

In almost every application process, a portion asks the candidate to answer an essay question. When applying to an educational program, like an MBA, the essay prompt usually relates to your career goals .

Scholarship essays ask about career goals to assess your enthusiasm for the program, learn more about how the scholarship will help you, and ensure that you’ve considered how the program will help you achieve your goals for the future:

Assess your enthusiasm. Passion is important for scholarship administrators, and if you’re able to articulate your enthusiasm for a specific career path , it will show that you’re determined to meet the requirements to reach that goal. The most specific and well-thought-out your essay is, the easier it will be for a reader to understand your devotion and commitment to the program and the field it will allow you to enter.

Learn how the scholarship will help you. Having a firm grasp of your career goals is great, but it’s equally important that you express exactly how the specific program relates to those goals. This shows that you’ve researched the merits of the program and understand exactly how it fits into your professional goals.

Show you’ve considered your future. This goes along with the first two points — show that you know how to set goals and consider the path toward achieving those goals, and you’ll have an easier time convincing the reader that you’ll know how to set goals while participating in the program. They’ll see that you know how to prioritize education because you have a clear vision for navigating your career path.

While some scholarships might come right out and simply ask, “What are your career goals?” most will rework the question into something different that still accomplishes the same goal.

Below are some examples of career goals essay prompts that a scholarship program could pose to its applicants:

Discuss your career goals. Many scholarships prefer the most direct approach when giving an essay prompt to their applicants. This type of question gives the candidate a lot of wiggle room to discuss their passions, motivations, and career goals.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years ? This question is often used as a prompt for a career goals essay because it gives the applicant a timeline to describe their aspirations. It forces them to be realistic about where their career will be and how they will accomplish this within the next ten years.

How will this scholarship contribute to your professional success? A scholarship committee wants to be sure that the money they’re giving will contribute to a student’s overall professional success. This question asks about the applicant’s game plan in the long-term and evaluates how this program is going to assist in their future.

What is your dream job ? Since a dream job is often categorized as a person’s career goals, this is a common question phrasing in scholarship essays. Asking about a candidate’s dream job answers whether this program aligns with the student’s long-term career goals.

What matters most to you and why? Sometimes, a scholarship essay prompt won’t ask about your career or future at all. Instead, they’ll ask a question like this that assesses your motivations , values, and character.

Use these examples of career goals essays for scholarships to help write your own. Pay special attention to how they’re organized, rather than the content, to inspire your own career goals essay:

Career goals essay example 1 – Discuss your career goals

When I was six years old, I was riding bikes with my older sister around our neighborhood. She had just taught me how to ride, and I was excited to have to freedom to explore with her. When she was rounding a particularly difficult bend to see around, a car happened to be coming along at the same time. It struck her. That bike ride changed our lives forever. Over the next year, I went with my sister every Tuesday and Thursday to her physical therapist ’s appointments to help her regain walking strength. Watching her physical therapist patiently assist my sister back to becoming herself awoken something in me. A passion for helping others in the same way eventually turned into a career goal of becoming a physical therapist myself. I decided to get my bachelor’s degree in exercise science. After graduating in 2019, I knew that the next step for me was to attend a graduate program in physical therapy. I was accepted to Lassell University Master of Science in Rehabilitation Services. This presented me with my latest goal along my career path, and I’m eagerly waiting to start. This scholarship would help me afford the wonderful opportunity to be a part of the Lassell University class of 2023, allowing me to continue working towards my ultimate career goal of becoming a physical therapist and helping others to become themselves again.

Career goals essay example 2 – Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years, I will have been successfully running my own construction business for about five years. I’m currently a second-year student at the University of Texas, pursuing a master’s degree in business administration. I decided to get my MBA because I knew it would be a positive asset toward my long-term career goal of owning a construction business. In my high school years, I worked as a construction apprentice for a local business. I loved many aspects of the business, such as building something from nothing. I knew that I wanted to incorporate this work into my long-term career, but I didn’t want to work as an apprentice . This led me to pursue business. In ten years and with the help of this scholarship, I will have graduated with my MBA almost a decade prior . After graduation, I plan to take a business administration internship with a carpentry business to help myself get a footing in the field. After about two years of this, I will have started my own construction business.

Career goals essay example 3 – What matters most to you and why?

The people I surround myself with matter most to me. Whether it be my relatives, friends, or professional acquaintances, I always care the most about the happiness of the people around me. Making the people around me happy matters the most to me because I truly because we find our happiness through others. I believe that this drive to make a positive impression on the people around me is what drove me towards a career as a nurse . I always thought of hospitals as places where people need someone to support them and make their day a little happier. I wanted to be one of those who spend their careers positively impacting people in need. This scholarship will enable me to finally afford nursing school and go after my dream job full force.

Career goals essay example 4 – What are your short- and long-term career goals, and how will earning this degree contribute to achieving those goals? Please provide a minimum of 200 words.

My short-term career goals involve working directly with underprivileged young people to increase the literacy rate in my community. As a student of an underfunded and understaffed school, I’ve seen firsthand how much of an impact early literacy education makes on long-term achievement. It broke my heart to see my peers embarrassed at their struggle with reading at an advanced age, and this shame added another dimension to their lack of opportunity. Being a literacy educator for young people would allow me to serve this community directly to show them not only the necessity of strong written communication skills, but the joy of reading for pleasure. This program focuses specifically on early literacy, and would provide me a direct route to a career in serving the community I hope to serve. As for long-term career goals, I hope to one day create a program where socioeconomically parents can bring their children for literacy education, not only to increase their ability to navigate the world of language, but also to instill confidence and joy in the written word. What drew me to this program was that it also has administrative, legal, and business dimensions that would set me on the path toward achieving this goal.

Here are some tips to keep in mind for writing a career goals scholarship essay:

Write about goals relevant to the scholarship. Although you may have many different kinds of goals for your personal and professional future, a scholarship essay only discusses objectives that are relevant to the program you’re applying for.

Be honest. Applying for a scholarship is stressful because the applicant’s education is usually reliant on receiving these funds in one way or another. Even though it’s tempting to exaggerate your skills or pretend you’re more passionate about something than you are to make yourself a more competitive applicant, it’s a bad move.

Use your own, unique voice. The essay portion of a scholarship application is your chance to stand out by using your voice. Nobody else, regardless of their academic or professional achievements, is you. Make this clear in your career goals scholarship essay by keeping your unique written voice engrained in the words you produce.

Be specific. A big reason that scholarship committees ask applicants to write a career goals essay is to determine how prepared they are in planning their long-term professional goals. They aren’t interested in providing a scholarship to students who aren’t going to follow through with their career plans.

Explain long and short-term goals . Even if the essay prompt asks you to describe where you see yourself in ten years, you still need to tell them the steps leading towards this picture of success.

Include the short-term goals that add up to your larger career objectives in your essay response. Explain how accomplishing the smaller goals gives you an advantage when tackling long-term ones.

Explain how the program and scholarship will help you. Before writing your career goals essay, consider how this program and scholarship will help you in your career. The answer to this question is essential.

Follow the essay formatting guidelines. This may sound obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to forget this step when your essay is finally flowing and when you’re scrambling to get it submitted on time.

Check, double-check , and triple-check the essay guidelines for content, word count, and formatting requirements. If you miss any of these steps, your essay may be immediately disqualified no matter how good it or the rest of your application is.

Many times career goals essays are written by students who have already completed at least some college or are applying to a post-graduate program and need more money to continue.

There’s a good chance that your career goals have changed since you started or graduated college. For example, say you wanted to be an engineer , so you got your undergraduate degree in engineering but realized you didn’t like it after working in the industry for a few years.

You decided that nursing would be more up your alley, and now you’re applying for a scholarship for a nursing program. While this isn’t unusual, it can make it more difficult to write a career goals essay since your past work doesn’t necessarily match your future goals.

In this case, you’ll simply need to explain why you changed your career path and why this next one is the best choice for you. Share your decision-making process to show that you haven’t taken the switch lightly, and talk about what you’ve already done to try to pursue this path.

How do you write a career goal for a scholarship essay?

You write a career goal for a scholarship essay by sharing your passion, explaining both your long- and short-term goals, and relating your goals to the scholarship.

Explain why you want to pursue the career you’re pursuing, where you hope to be in the future and how you plan to get there, and how the scholarship will help you do this.

How do you describe your career goals in an essay?

You describe your career goals in an essay by explaining what you want to do in your career, why you decided on this career path, and what you’ve done so far to make that a reality.

You can usually work these factors into any prompt you receive, so think through them before you start writing so that you can use them as an outline of sorts.

What are career goals examples?

Examples of career goals include:

Working as a grant writer for a nonprofit organization.

Becoming a department manager and eventually an executive in your field.

Owning your own plumbing company.

Caring for underserved communities as a nurse practitioner .

What are some goals for success?

Some goals for success include growing in your role, building your network, and finding joy in the job. Most careers don’t just happen overnight and require you to set the right milestones that work best for you. Not everyone will have the same goals for success.

How do you start a career goals essay for a scholarship?

You can start a career goals essay for a scholarship by directly answering the prompt. Most scholarship prompts include a word count of between 200 and 500 words, so it’s essential that you immediately respond to the prompt. Attention-grabbing sentences and narratives can be helpful for setting the scene, but an efficient and direct answer will show a clarity of mind that helps enhance the quality of your answer.

BLS – Career planning for high schoolers

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.

Recent Job Searches

• Registered Nurse Jobs Resume Location
• Truck Driver Jobs Resume Location
• Call Center Representative Jobs Resume Location
• Customer Service Representative Jobs Resume
• Delivery Driver Jobs Resume Location
• Warehouse Worker Jobs Resume Location
• Account Executive Jobs Resume Location
• Sales Associate Jobs Resume Location
• Licensed Practical Nurse Jobs Resume Location
• Company Driver Jobs Resume

Related posts

What Is A Job Relocation Package? (With Examples)

How Long Does It Take To Become A Doctor?

Small Business Vs. Big Corporation: Weighing The Pros And Cons

How To Write A Letter (With Examples)

• Career Advice >
• Apply For Jobs >
• Application >

Which program are you applying to?

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

February 29, 2024

• Writing Your Career Goals Essay

Check out all the blog posts in this series:

• Identifying the Ingredients of a Winning Essay
• Finding a Theme for Your Statement of Purpose
• Revise and Polish Your Application Essays

Your career goals essay demands a laser-like focus. A personal statement, by contrast, allows for some flexibility in its content, though you can – and often should – discuss your career goals. But a career goals essay has a particular and packed agenda. In fact, the prompt for a career goals essay could actually include multiple questions, and in such cases, you want to make sure you address each of them.

For example, in 2022, Kellogg asked applicants to its one-year program to respond to the following prompt: “Please discuss your post-MBA career goal, the current experience you will leverage to support the transition, and the Kellogg 1Y opportunities that will help you reach this goal.” 

This prompt has three parts: (1) What do you want to do post-MBA ? (2) Why is the 1Y program appropriate for you? And (3) what experience has so far prepared you to succeed in your target role? 

So, always pay close attention to your target school’s prompt to ensure that you answer all the questions within its “single” question. 

Three elements of a successful career goals essay

In addition to having a distinct theme , your career goals essay should achieve the following:

• Highlight specific career achievements. Choose from your most notable or defining experiences. These could be related to your work, community involvement, or extracurricular activities. The experiences you select should showcase your leadership skills , creative thinking, collaborative abilities, and personal reflections about what you learned or gained.
• Explain why your experiences and influences make your career goal a logical and wise choice.
• Demonstrate why you are suited to a particular field as a result of your education, experience, abilities, and enthusiasm. Ideally, the material you choose to include will also allow you to prove your knowledge about industry trends and suggest how your abilities and strengths can help you contribute to that field.

It’s a very tall order to achieve all this.

Putting these elements together to create your goals essay

Let’s take a look at a sample MBA Goals Essay and see how these three key elements are incorporated.  

You should be able to easily recognize why the writer’s opening is attention-getting for all the right reasons. The writer introduces herself as the supremely busy executive she visualizes becoming in the future. She trades large amounts of stock, rushes off to a Zoom conference, hurries downstairs, flags down a taxi, then hops on a plane. As she describes this whirlwind of activity, we can practically feel her heart pumping.

After establishing her voice and personality in this opening, she offers context for her MBA goal. Notice that in writing about her work as an accountant for a major firm, she provides relevant details, including how many years she has been in the field, her bilingualism, and her specialty area as an auditor. This information is her springboard to explain why she is pursuing an MBA: she’s bursting out of her limited role as an accountant. Her eyes and ambition are set on a larger playing field as an international investment manager.

Write an essay, not a list or CV

Outstanding career goals essays are not lists of an applicant’s roles and achievements. Instead, they have a narrative flow and arc that convey the candidate’s palpable excitement about their career choice. This writer’s enthusiastic, dreamy first paragraph achieves this, and she returns to that image at the end, where she paints her idealized (if frantically busy) future. She also proves her seriousness by noting that she registered for the CFA exam.

Connect your career goals to your reasons for choosing a particular program

Many essay questions, especially those for MBA programs , will ask why you have chosen the school you’re applying to. Be prepared to respond knowledgeably and enthusiastically. And the only way to become knowledgeable – and enthusiastic – is by visiting campus in-person or virtually, attending student recruitment meetings, participating in forums, reading student blogs, watching videos of students speaking about their experiences, communicating directly with students and/or recent alumni, and otherwise doing your homework. As part of your research, make sure you have familiarized yourself with the courses and specializations that are relevant to your goals.

Summary Tips

• Focus on answering each and every question asked in a career goals essay prompt. Often, there is more than one.
• Highlight specific achievements vividly and in a way that shows that your career choice is logical for you.
• Do the research so you can write about why the school is a good fit for you and do so with genuine enthusiasm.

In the next post in this series , we’ll explain how to take all this advice and apply it to create an exemplary first draft.

Work one-on-one with an expert who will walk you through the process of creating a slam-dunk application. Check out our full catalog of application services . Our admissions consultants have read thousands of essays and know the exact ingredients of an outstanding essay.

By Judy Gruen, former Accepted admissions consultant. Judy holds a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University. She is also the co-author of Accepted’s first full-length book, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools . Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related resources:

• The Winning Ingredients of a Dynamic MBA Goals Essay , a free guide
• Grad School Personal Statement Examples
• Focus on Fit , podcast Episode 162

About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service

Accepted 1171 S. Robertson Blvd. #140 Los Angeles CA 90035 +1 (310) 815-9553 © 2022 Accepted

• Search All Scholarships
• Exclusive Scholarships
• Easy Scholarships to Apply For
• No Essay Scholarships
• Scholarships for HS Juniors
• Scholarships for HS Seniors
• Scholarships for College Students
• Scholarships for Grad Students
• Scholarships for Women
• Scholarships for Black Students
• Scholarships
• Student Loans
• College Admissions
• Financial Aid
• Scholarship Winners
• Scholarship Providers

Student-centric advice and objective recommendations

Higher education has never been more confusing or expensive. Our goal is to help you navigate the very big decisions related to higher ed with objective information and expert advice. Each piece of content on the site is original, based on extensive research, and reviewed by multiple editors, including a subject matter expert. This ensures that all of our content is up-to-date, useful, accurate, and thorough.

Our reviews and recommendations are based on extensive research, testing, and feedback. We may receive commission from links on our website, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. You can find a complete list of our partners here .

Examples of Scholarship Essays for the “Career Goals” Question

Emily Wong is a writer at Scholarships360. She’s worked as a social media manager and a content writer at several different startups, where she covered various topics including business, tech, job recruitment, and education. Emily grew up and went to school in the Chicago suburbs, where she studied economics and journalism at Northwestern University.

Learn about our editorial policies

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Writing an essay is often the trickiest part of the scholarship application, not to mention the most time-consuming. However, the essay section also allows room for creativity and individuality. If you can communicate effectively, you can use the essay portion to stand out from the crowd. Let’s go over some tips for writing, as well as a couple of scholarship essay examples about career goals.

How to write a scholarship essay 

At this point, you’ve probably gained plenty of experience writing papers for school. However, it may still take a couple of tries to nail the scholarship essay. Since scholarship teams often have to get through a lot of applications, it’s important to stand out while staying concise. Here are some simple guidelines for writing scholarship essays.

See also: How to write a winning scholarship essay (with examples!)

Take five minutes to brainstorm

Before you even start your essay, take some time to gather your thoughts. Think about what you’ll want the paper to focus on. Why did you choose to pursue your career path in the first place? Where do you want to be in five years? How would this scholarship help you further your studies and work toward your goals?

Once you’ve jotted down a few ideas, choose one or two to center your essay on. Identifying the focus of your paper, it’ll make it easier to keep your thoughts organized. In turn, it’ll make it easier for the reader to follow.

Related : How to start a scholarship essay (with examples!)

Stay within the word limit

Unlike the four-page essays that you may have written in English class, scholarship essays are often only a paragraph or two. In order to respect the selection committee’s time, be wary of going too far about the specified word count. A general rule of thumb is to stay within 20 words above or below the limit. That may entail a few rounds of edits to get the wording just right.

Stay positive!

Feel free to use part of your essay to talk about your life’s challenges. After all, the selection committee often wants to give the award to a candidate who needs it. However, make sure your anecdote doesn’t devolve into a sob story. If you’re going to bring up hardships you’ve endured, try to balance it by talking about how you’ve overcome them. By demonstrating resilience, you can show readers how you would use the scholarship to succeed in your current situation.

Leave time to proofread

Especially for a short scholarship essay, proofreading can take as little as 5-10 minutes. Still, it can be tempting to just hit “submit” after your first draft. However, being too impulsive can leave your essay riddled with typos and grammatical errors.

Try to avoid unnecessary mistakes by finishing your draft at least 24 hours before the scholarship deadline. That way, you can proofread it with fresh eyes before you submit it.

If you’re struggling to close out your essay, read how to end a scholarship essay in five steps .

Apply to these scholarships due soon

$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship

$40,000 Build a College List Scholarship

$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship

$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship

Niche $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

$1,000 Appily Easy College Money Scholarship

$5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship

$2,000 No Essay CollegeVine Scholarship

How to write a 100-word “career goals” essay.

When writing a 100-word essay, you’ll have to choose your content carefully. Since space is limited, you’ll want to identify the most important details to include beforehand.

First and foremost, make sure to clearly communicate your current pursuits. Talk about your academic and extracurricular activities related to your career goals. Additionally, it’s important to be specific about what you plan to do in the future. Then, if you have extra room, you can talk about how the scholarship will help you reach your goals.

My name is Alison MacBride, and I’m a sophomore at the University of Illinois. I’m currently pursuing a major in Journalism with a minor in Natural Resource Conservation. After completing my program, I plan to combine my areas of interest to become an environmental journalist.

During high school, I volunteered at an eco-conscious farm, where I learned about how our actions affect the earth. Since then, I’ve been set on raising awareness for the environment. This scholarship would go a long way in helping me finish my degree with the skills I need to investigate and report about critical issues.

Word count: 100

How to write a 250-word “career goals” essay

For the 250-word essay, you can go into more detail. Give the readers some context by talking about how you first got interested in your chosen career. Storytelling can be especially effective in engaging your audience. Try to capture their attention by choosing one or two concrete examples and relaying them vividly.

Additionally, you can spend more time talking about the scholarship and how it’ll make a difference in your studies. Go into more detail about how and why you need the award, but remember to keep it positive! For more help, check out how to write a 250 word essay . 

I first decided that I wanted to pursue a career in environmentalism in early high school. The summer after my freshman year, I joined a volunteer program at an eco-conscious farm in my community. In addition to helping out with the operations, I learned about current environmental issues related to farming and other consumer industries.

After learning about the agricultural industry’s impact on the planet, I was inspired to make a difference. The next year, I started a monthly earth magazine at my high school in which we broke down environmental issues and offered tips on how to be more eco-friendly. When I started college, I founded an on-campus publication with the same mission.

In recent years, I’ve been troubled to see how some media outlets downplay the gravity of issues like climate change and deforestation. I’ve admired reporters who publish trustworthy and comprehensible information about environmental issues, and I aim to follow in their footsteps.

When I entered college, I was initially concerned that I wouldn’t have enough money to finish my degree. Fortunately, I’ve been able to cover most of my tuition using merit scholarships and paychecks from my part-time job on campus. Receiving this scholarship would allow me more time to focus on acing my classes and pursuing environmental advocacy work on campus.

Word count: 261

Final thoughts

Planning is essential in making your “career goals” essay clear and concise. Hopefully, these scholarship essay examples about career goals can be your guide to writing a scholarship-winning essay. Good luck!

Additional resources

Maybe you need to write a longer scholarship essay? We can help with our writing a 500 word essay guide ! Be prepared and learn how to write essays about yourself and how to craft an impressive personal statement . Learn the differences between a personal statement and a statement of purpose as the terms might come up on college websites. If you haven’t decided on a college already, check out our guide on how to choose a college . No matter where you are in your educational journey, make sure that you apply for all the scholarships you qualify for!

Start your scholarship search

• Vetted scholarships custom-matched to your profile
• Access exclusive scholarships only available to Scholarships360 members

Scholarships360 Recommended

Top 64 No Essay Scholarships in June 2024

Top 262 Scholarships for High School Juniors in June 2024

$20k+ in Exclusive Scholarships from Scholarships360

Trending now.

Top 55 Easy Scholarships✅ to Apply For in June 2024

Top 1,318 Scholarships for High School Seniors in June 2024

Top Scholarships for Current College Students in June 2024

3 reasons to join scholarships360.

• Automatic entry to our $10,000 No-Essay Scholarship
• Personalized matching to thousands of vetted scholarships
• Quick apply for scholarships exclusive to our platform

By the way...Scholarships360 is 100% free!

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Professions & Career — Career Goals

Career Goals Essay Examples

Career goals essay topic examples, argumentative essays.

Argumentative career goals essays require you to present and defend a viewpoint or strategy related to your professional aspirations. Consider these topic examples:

• 1. Argue why pursuing higher education, such as a master's degree, is essential for achieving your long-term career goals.
• 2. Defend your perspective on whether adaptability or specialization is more important in today's ever-changing job market.

Example Introduction Paragraph for an Argumentative Career Goals Essay: The journey toward achieving our career goals often involves important decisions. In this essay, I will argue that pursuing a master's degree is not only personally fulfilling but also a strategic step toward realizing my long-term career aspirations in [your chosen field].

Example Conclusion Paragraph for an Argumentative Career Goals Essay: In conclusion, the argument for pursuing a master's degree underscores the significance of advanced education in shaping our professional futures. As we contemplate our career paths, we are challenged to make choices that align with our ultimate goals.

Compare and Contrast Essays

Compare and contrast career goals essays involve analyzing the differences and similarities between various career paths, industries, or strategies for achieving your goals. Consider these topics:

• 1. Compare and contrast the career trajectories of professionals in two different fields, highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities each path offers.
• 2. Analyze the differences and similarities between pursuing entrepreneurship and working in a corporate environment to achieve your career goals.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Compare and Contrast Career Goals Essay: The pursuit of career goals often involves making informed choices about our professional paths. In this essay, we will compare and contrast the career trajectories of professionals in [Field A] and [Field B], shedding light on the challenges and opportunities each path presents.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Compare and Contrast Career Goals Essay: In conclusion, the comparison and contrast of career trajectories in [Field A] and [Field B] reveal the diverse avenues available for achieving our goals. As we navigate our career choices, we are encouraged to explore the unique advantages each path offers.

Descriptive Essays

Descriptive career goals essays enable you to vividly depict your envisioned career, highlighting the responsibilities, impact, and personal fulfillment it offers. Here are some topic ideas:

• 1. Describe your ideal job in detail, emphasizing the specific role, responsibilities, and the positive contributions you aim to make.
• 2. Paint a detailed portrait of the work culture and environment you aspire to be a part of in your future career.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Descriptive Career Goals Essay: Our career goals are often shaped by our dreams and aspirations. In this essay, I will immerse you in the vivid details of my ideal job, showcasing the role, responsibilities, and the sense of purpose it offers on my journey toward professional fulfillment.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Descriptive Career Goals Essay: In conclusion, the descriptive exploration of my ideal job underscores the importance of aligning our career goals with our aspirations. As we envision our professional futures, we are inspired to pursue opportunities that resonate with our passions and values.

Persuasive Essays

Persuasive career goals essays involve convincing your audience of the importance of a specific career path or the value of setting ambitious goals. Consider these persuasive topics:

• 1. Persuade your readers that pursuing a career in [your chosen field] will contribute significantly to societal progress and innovation.
• 2. Argue for the inclusion of career development programs in educational institutions to empower students in defining and pursuing their career goals.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Persuasive Career Goals Essay: Our career choices have the potential to impact not only our lives but also society as a whole. In this persuasive essay, I will present a compelling case for the societal importance of pursuing a career in [your chosen field] and the need for educational institutions to support students in their career aspirations.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Persuasive Career Goals Essay: In conclusion, the persuasive argument for the societal value of careers in [your chosen field] emphasizes the transformative impact individuals can have on society. As we contemplate our career journeys, we are urged to consider the broader implications of our choices.

Narrative Essays

Narrative career goals essays allow you to share personal stories or experiences related to your career aspirations and the journey toward achieving them. Explore these narrative essay topics:

• 1. Narrate a personal experience that shaped your career goals and ignited your passion for [your chosen field].
• 2. Share a story of overcoming obstacles and setbacks on your path to realizing your long-term career aspirations.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Narrative Career Goals Essay: Our career goals are often inspired by personal experiences and pivotal moments. In this narrative essay, I will take you on a journey through a defining experience that ignited my passion for [your chosen field], shaping my career aspirations and determination to succeed.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Narrative Career Goals Essay: In conclusion, the narrative of my journey toward realizing my career goals underscores the resilience and determination required to overcome obstacles. As we reflect on our own experiences, we are reminded that our career aspirations are within reach with dedication and perseverance.

10 Most Popular Career Goals Essay Topics in 2024

• Adapting Career Aspirations in the Age of Automation and AI
• The Role of Personal Branding in Achieving Career Success
• Navigating Career Changes: Strategies for Lifelong Learning
• Empowering Career Goals: The Impact and Importance of Scholarships
• The Impact of Globalization on Career Opportunities and Choices
• Mentorship's Role in Shaping Future Leaders and Professionals
• Success: The Importance of Setting Career Goals
• The Impact of Cultural Influences on Career Goals and Aspirations
• The Importance of Work-Life Balance in Career Planning
• Entrepreneurship as a Career Goal: Opportunities and Challenges

The Importance of Being a Dermatologist

My dream career is entrepreneurship, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

Statement of Purpose in Accounting

The hopes and challenges in achieving career goals, building of my personal leadership plan, my desire to continue learning computer engineering, let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Believe in Myself to Achieve Your Goals

Law – a career i want to pursue, a journey to achieve my career goals, planning of my career path, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

What is My Foremost Dream in Life

My ambitions to be a financial advisor, my personal goals and success plan, my career plan to succeed in marketing, my goal to pursue a masters degree in human resource management program, an overview of my business career plan, my further career goals: nurse and science tutor, my motivation for pursuing a career in the film industry, my personal objectives and my career goals, my dedication towards management and marketing to become a successful businessman, my goal to succeed as a doctor, why i chose the clinical psychology psyd program, it passion: the reasons of why i chose it industry, paving the way to my future career trajectory, analysis of the three types of goals in my life, i choose the medical career to help people, career research and career goal: college admission paper, my goal of studying and working in domestic marketing, being good at something doesn't mean you should make it your job, my career and education plans to become a chef, the pursuit of a degree as a special education teacher, relevant topics.

• Dream Career
• Personal Beliefs
• Paying College Athletes
• Someone Who Inspires Me

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Bibliography

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Career Planning: How To Create A Career Path Plan

Rahul is a 26-year-old media planner in advertising who’s been in the profession for five years. Since he began working,…

Rahul is a 26-year-old media planner in advertising who’s been in the profession for five years. Since he began working, he’s changed eight jobs and hasn’t spent more than six months to a year in the same job.

He finds jobs easily, but on the flip side, he hasn’t grown in his career.

Rahul is not alone. Many people switch jobs frequently. Millennials in particular have a reputation for job-hopping. ( Alprazolam ) This might seem attractive in the short-run but this strategy isn’t good for career planning.

What Is Career Planning?

Let us understand the meaning of career planning. Career planning refers to the strategy a person uses to determine career goals and the path to achieve those goals. The process integrates various activities, including steps for self-improvement  and the process of meeting these goals.

The importance of career planning can’t be overemphasized. Having a career plan is crucial for every person aspiring to become successful in life. It is a multi-stage process that needs to be thoroughly planned and executed to reap the desired benefits.

But before we delve into the importance of career planning, let’s take a look at the various features of career planning.

Features of career planning

Let’s look at some of the features of career planning:

Self-analysis:

The first and foremost among the features of career planning is the need for self-analysis. You need to analyze your strengths, abilities, knowledge, and personal preferences.

Opportunity analysis:

Once you determine your career choice, you need to analyze the available opportunities.

Goal setting:

Among the features of career planning, goal setting is probably the most important. You need to set realistic short- and long-term career goals.

Creating a strategy and implementing the action plan:

Once you have set your eyes on your goals, you need to chart out the course and acquire the skills or resources necessary for achieving those goals.

Importance of Career Planning

Career planning is essential as it helps us create a detailed path for our future professional life. Let’s take a look at some of the significant benefits of career planning:

It can help you choose a career:

The process of career planning involves identifying your strengths and researching fields that you can excel in.

Once you know your strengths, you can look for suitable opportunities in the field of your choice. For instance, in this digital day and age, a career in digital services such as software development, AI, data science, education, data analytics, or digital marketing can be a great choice if you are good with technology.

Career planning can ensure job safety:

In the early 20th century, everyone wanted to become a barrister as it entailed commanding respect as well as earning a lot of money. A couple of decades ago, an MBA degree was the most sought-after as it made entry into the big leagues of the corporate world a cakewalk.

Today, many MBA graduates find themselves at entry-level positions or in jobs that don’t pay well enough. The situation is similar for lawyers and engineers as well. Only graduates from top institutes in these fields are able to make it big, at least initially.

In this situation, one shouldn’t choose to pursue an engineering or MBA degree simply because they see others going for them. If you do this without planning your career properly, you may find yourself in trouble.

One of the benefits of career planning is that it allows you to choose wisely and enter a field with ample employment potential.

It can ensure financial stability:

When you plan your career well, you also take into account future uncertainties, potential job losses, or any other unforeseen scenarios that could impact your earning potential.

Career planning can also help you mitigate the financial risks and uncertainties to the extent possible.

It can help you attain peace of mind:

One of the lesser-known benefits of career planning is that it provides peace of mind, especially in stressful situations. Unemployment invariably leads to stress, uncertainty, and feelings of low self-worth.

But if you plan your career smartly, you would be keeping an eye on the job trends, which in turn can eliminate the possibilities of financial hardships or lack of opportunities.

Among the key benefits of career planning is that it enables you to stay in sync with job trends, emerging technologies, and market demands.

The importance of career planning can’t be overstated. Harappa Education’s Leading Self course helps you understand yourself so you can plan your careers. Enroll in this online course and enjoy the benefits of career planning to achieve your goals.

Explore topics such as  Career Development , the  Iceberg Model , the Benefits of  Taking Ownership ,  Career Path Planning ,  What is Planning  from our Harappa Diaries section and lead on a path of self-development.

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

How to Develop a 5-Year Career Plan

• Mary McNevin, Ed. D.

Stop setting annual goals, and start thinking longer term.

Having a long-term plan for your career can help you reduce career-related stress, increase your perceived employability, and allow you to connect more deeply with your purpose. But how do you move beyond yearly career goals and create a five-year plan?

• Brainstorm. Start by thinking about how you want your career to develop and what you need to do to get there. This requires self-reflection. You’ll need to identify your primary goal, your passions, how your existing skills contribute to both those things, and your areas for improvement.
• Gather feedback. We’re not aways the best judges of our own capabilities and strengths. That’s why it can be important early in your planning process to gather feedback from your superiors, mentors, and peers. They may help you discover career opportunities you never considered for yourself, clue you into strengths you may be overlooking, and share insights regarding your areas for growth and development.
• Map it out. After doing some self-reflection and gathering feedback, it’s time to organize the information you’ve collected. Consider keeping track of your plan in PowerPoint. For example, slide 1 should outline the career goals you identified in your self-reflection. Slide 2 should list out the skills you already have and the ones you would need to achieve your ultimate career goals. Slide 3 should highlight the development activities you plan to pursue over the next five years to help you achieve your goals. And slide 4 should present all of the possible obstacles that might prevent you from achieving your goal and how to address those challenges.
• Iterate. Unlike year-long goal setting, the process of creating a five-year plan is never complete. One way to ensure you’re keeping your plan updated is to set a quarterly calendar reminder. This will help you address any new developments in your life or career and make changes where necessary.

“Where do you see yourself in five years?”

• MM Mary McNevin, Ed. D. is an executive coach, talent advisor, and former CLO and talent executive. She is a growth-oriented talent management executive with 20+ years of experience in learning, talent management, succession planning, and strategy development. Dr. McNevin earned her doctorate (EdD) from the University of Pennsylvania through an interdisciplinary program between the Graduate School of Education and the Wharton School of Business. Her dissertation focused on Executive Coaching in the C-suite. Dr. McNevin also holds an MBA from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and an MS in Education from the University of Pennsylvania.

Partner Center

• Applying For Scholarships

Writing Tips for a Career Goals Essay (2023)

Jennifer Finetti Mar 1, 2023

Get our best scholarship practices, insights & tips delivered to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

For your college scholarship essay, you may be asked about your career goals. The scholarship committee wants to see how investing in your education will help your career. Do you have a definitive plan? Will a college education fit into that plan? These are the answers they want to see.

In this guide, we will provide some scholarship essay examples about career goals to jumpstart your essay writing.

Writing tips for career goals scholarship essays

Here are some quick tips for writing career goal scholarship essays:

• Write about career goals that tie into the scholarship. This doesn’t mean you have to lie about your career goals to make them fit. Find a way to relate them to the scholarship committee or other elements of the scholarship.
• Be precise about your career goals. Avoid vague statements that suggest you do not have a plan. Judges like to see determination because it shows they’re making a worthy educational investment.
• Discuss how your education will help you achieve your career goals. The scholarship will assist with your education. Show a connection between the two so they can see why you deserve this scholarship.
• If you mention multiple goals, indicate which one you feel most strongly about. Longer essays may allow you to mention a backup plan, but the committee needs to see where your focus lies.
• Avoid cliché statements. Describe how your specific talents, experiences, and degree pursuits will help you succeed.
• Point out solutions, not problems. You may mention struggles you’ve had in the past, but pinpoint how you will learn from them. Moreover, show how those struggles led to your career goals.
• Organize your thoughts in a fluid manner. This will most likely be in chronological order, starting with your degree and progressing through your career growth.
• Write, revise, rest, revise. This goes for any essay writing. Write the first draft from start to finish. Then read through it and edit any grammar or flow errors. Take a break, preferably overnight, and then re-read your content with fresh eyes.

The fastest path to earning scholarships

Simplify and focus your application process with the one-stop platform for vetted scholarships.

Example 1: Scholarship essay about career goals (100 words)

In a 100-word scholarship essay, you need to quickly make your point. There is not enough room for a lengthy intro or backstory. Use concise, comprehensive statements to deliver the most information in the fewest words.

I’m a sophomore at Texas Tech University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Companion Animal Science. After graduation, I hope to attend Texas A&M to become a veterinarian serving rescue organizations and animal shelters. I was born and raised in the south, where it is common for people to abandon animals in rural areas. Those animals then go into a rescue – emaciated, frightened, and confused. I want to work with rescues to provide affordable veterinary medicine to the animals they save. This scholarship would help me continue my education and potentially save thousands of abandoned animals in the future.

Word count: 99

Example 2: Scholarship essay about career goals (250 words)

With a 250-word scholarship essay, you have a little more room to discuss the details of your career goals. You can explain situations from your past that inspired your career pursuits. You could use one paragraph to talk about your short-term goals and another to talk about your long-term goals. Just make sure the big picture ties into the scholarship.

My name is Patrick Holden and I am a freshman at the University of Michigan, majoring in English and minoring in linguistics. I plan to become an English teacher, but this wasn’t always what I had in mind.  When thinking about my future, I always saw myself in some sort of corporate office, perhaps as an executive assistant or a loan officer at a bank. My father works in the finance office for a car dealership and my mother works at a call center. I assumed I would follow a similar, albeit boring, path in life. In my junior year of high school, everything changed. My English teacher inspired me in ways I could have never imagined. She got me to love writing, literature, etymology, and everything about the English language. She made me want to be a better student in all of my classes, and she helped me see the value of education. I decided then that I wanted to inspire other students just as she did for me. My parents are unfortunately not able to contribute much toward my college expenses. I have earned a tuition scholarship based on my ACT score, but I still need additional funding for books and supplies. English majors have particularly high book costs because we have to purchase multiple books for each class. With the help of this scholarship, I could afford to continue my degree and become an English teacher.

Word count: 240

Example 3: Scholarship essay about career goals (500 words)

With 500 words or more to play around with, you have plenty of space to talk about your career goals. Maintain the same theme throughout the scholarship essay. Each paragraph should connect to the next, and they should all work together to describe your career plan. Avoid making disconnected statements for the sake of word count. In the end, the scholarship committee should have a clear view of your educational plans and professional aspirations.

Internet marketing has gone from an optional method of advertisement to a vital step in business outreach. Even small businesses in remote towns look to the internet to attract customers and spread the word about their services. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing with an emphasis on Digital Marketing. With this training, I will be able to enter a profession that will only grow year by year. When I was younger, I found print advertisements to be fascinating. I loved reading the newspaper with my father just to see the full-page ads in between stories. When I got older though, those ads became less appealing because they were not adaptive. They seemed dated, static and ill-fit for changes in society. That’s when I discovered internet marketing. It was still in its infancy when I was in middle school, but by the time I graduated high school, it had become a staple in business development. I loved the way internet marketers had to constantly adjust to fit Google’s algorithms, new mobile devices, and new audiences. I knew this was the career for me. Originally, I planned to focus solely on business marketing because there were not many digital marketing degrees available. Over the last two years though, several schools throughout the country have developed internet marketing courses that explain fundamental methods of search engine optimization, website analytics, and more. These are the foundations I will build my career around. The best part about internet marketing is that there is always something new to learn. I can use my creative mind and exploratory nature to try new advertising methods that help businesses succeed. Every time they do well, I do well. This is the kind of job fulfillment most people can only dream of, but my educational plan and job prospects will allow me to achieve it. I have picked up some freelance jobs online to supplement my studies and help pay for my education. It is difficult to maintain a steady stream of income in freelance because I spend so much time on my school work. This scholarship could offset some of the costs and reduce my workload as a whole. While I will still work throughout the semester and full-time in the summers, having extra financial aid would greatly reduce my stress in college. I look forward to a future where I can use my marketing skills to help business owners achieve their career goals. I plan to spend the first few years after graduation working for a successful, long-standing digital marketing company. After I have enough on-the-job training to feel confident in my abilities, I will open my own internet marketing company in Chicago, where my family lives. I have a clear picture of where I will be in the next 10 years, and I know this degree is going to help me get there.

Word count: 481

• Scholarship Essay

Jennifer Finetti

As a parent who recently helped her own kids embark on their college journeys, Jennifer approaches the transition from high school to college from a unique perspective. She truly enjoys engaging with students – helping them to build the confidence, knowledge, and insight needed to pursue their educational and career goals, while also empowering them with the strategies and skills needed to access scholarships and financial aid that can help limit college costs. She understands the importance of ensuring access to the edtech tools and resources that can make this process easier and more equitable - this drive to support underserved populations is what drew her to ScholarshipOwl. Jennifer has coached students from around the world, as well as in-person with local students in her own community. Her areas of focus include career exploration, major selection, college search and selection, college application assistance, financial aid and scholarship consultation, essay review and feedback, and more. She works with students who are at the top of their class, as well as those who are struggling. She firmly believes that all students, regardless of their circumstances, can succeed if they stay focused and work hard in school. Jennifer earned her MA in Counseling Psychology from National University, and her BA in Psychology from University of California, Santa Cruz.

Related Stories View All

How to Apply for Scholarships to Study Abroad

Student Spotlight: Jordan Hughes

Common Scholarship Apps

Get started with scholarshipowl.

Simplify and focus your application process with the one-stop platform for vetted scholarships

Career Planning and Career Management Argumentative Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Executive Summary

Introduction, hr professional association, cost benefit analysis, suitable professional organizations, references list.

The objective of the report was to provide the human resource manager with the benefits associated with joining a local or international human resource professional association. Different merits have been explored based on six professional associations namely the SHRM, CIPD, ASHRM, AHRI, DHRF, and the AITD.

According to the report findings, an association like SHRM gives room for interaction and growth among a group of HR professionals. It also provides an individual with the necessary resources and research materials essential in career development. CIPD and SHRM are globally recognized associations and as such, they increase employees’ marketability.

Other advantages include growth and development of HR professionals, networking and sharing experiences, training and developing professionals, provision of HR professional solutions, and provision of assistance in management.

The most suitable organizations I would join as the head of the customer service department are SHRM, the AHRI, and CIPD. These organizations assist in developing HR profession and developing career of an individual. Given that career development is a progressive task, these associations assist individual gain skills, knowledge and solve issues related to HR profession.

We are living in a world where employees are considered as the largest asset in an organization. For this reason, organizations invest heavily in their employees in order to ensure that the organizational goals are achieved. Proper career management and planning results in employees’ career development. The career of an individual is shaped through career development which in return results in career commitment and job satisfaction.

It also prepares an individual to undergo different phases of career development. According to Adekola (2011), career development is a continuous process in which an individual passes through different phases each characterized by different tasks, unique issues, and themes. Therefore, career development is an essential task that prepares an individual to rise through the corporate ladder.

Career development is primarily the outcome of interactional processes between institutional career management and career planning (Adekola, 2011).

Institutions like Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Australian Human Resource Institute (AHRI), Arabian Society for Human Resource Management (ASHRM), enables an individual to shape his/her HR professional to meet international standards.

The objective of the report is to provide the human resource manager with the merits of joining a local or international human resource professional association. The benefits and the deficiencies of the professional associations named above will also be explored and analysed critically. The report will use cost benefit analysis to determine which associations are worthy joining by a HR professional and why they are worth joining.

Some of the professionals HR associations include SHRM, CIPD, AHRI, ASHRM, AITID and DHRF are explored below. Their benefits and deficiencies have also been explored.

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

SHRM is the world’s largest HRM association with more than 250,000 members (SHRM 2012, SHRM 2010). The association operates in over 140 countries where it advances HR professional interests. It also addresses the needs of HR professionals from different countries. The major advantage of SHRM is that it is a global human resource outfit which addresses HR issues from a global perspective (SHRM 2012).

Through the SHRM knowledge center, HR professionals receive assistance related to HR issues. In addition, a member is exposed to interactive experience during conferences and seminars related to HR and HRM (SHRM 2012a). Lastly, the organization assists HR professionals to grow their careers from within and share competitive practices at the international level (SHRM 2010).

SHRM charges an annual membership fee of $ 35 for a student and $180 for a professional. Members can also subscribe to the HR magazine (SHRM 2012). Members are required to abide by the set SHRM code of ethical and professional standards in HRM. Membership is renewed annually after the membership fee has been received. The major limitation is the annual membership fee.

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)

CIPD is the largest chartered human resource and professional body in the world. It is based in the UK and currently has more than 135,000 members (CIPD 2012). CIPD provides its members with networking opportunities and resources necessary in the development of knowledge (CIPD 2012).

Moreover, it assists its members to maximize their potential towards career development. CIPD members are recognized in the workplace, thereby giving them a competitive advantage. The mission of CIPD is to serve the interests of its professional members and to uphold the highest standards on the development and management of individuals (CIPD 2012).

In order to become a member of CIPD, one has to be professionally qualified. However, like any other association, there is a membership fee to join CIPD. This fee assists in its management. CIPD members can also access first rate benefits or get professional membership (CIPD 2012).

Australian Human Resource Institute (AHRI)

Although the organization has more than 60 years of experience, it has only 12,000 members. AHRI is the national association in Australian that represents management professionals and human resource employees (APFHRM 2012).

AHRI plays the major role of fostering the growth and development of HR professionals. The association also sets standards and builds capacity for improving the profession. AHRI ensures that all its members have access to professionally recognized frameworks like

publications, research, and professional development events and programs (APFHRM 2012). AHRI works in conjunction with its affiliate organisations at both the national and international levels to provide members with relevant, practical and cost effective ways of obtaining HR qualification (APFHRM 2012). The body also provides its members with membership services, professional development, and specialist education.

Arabian Society for Human Resource Management (ASHRM)

ASHRM was established in 1991 with the objective of managing and developing human resources (ASHRM 2010). In addition, it provides relevant information and expertise in the areas of management and human resource. ASHRM is a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that offers assistance to HRM professionals in the Arab region by providing them with comprehensive resources (ASHRM 2010).

ASHRM has an open membership to students pursuing HRM degree, personnel and business management professionals. Persons whose objectives and interests conform to ASHRM objectives can also join ASHRM. ASHRM is based on motivation, creativity and diversity (ASHRM 2010).

Dubai Human Resources Forum (DHRF)

Dubai Human Resources Forum (DHRF) was founded with the objective of networking, sharing experiences, and seeking continuous professional development among HR professionals in the UAE region. It operates in the Emirates region and is open to any person with a dream of pursuing the aforementioned objectives.

Currently, DHRF has more than three hundred members who represent more than 150 companies in UAE. As an affiliate of CIPD, the Forum is geared towards the achievement of professional standards to any members in need of them. DHRF demands a membership fee of 150 AED and 300 AED annual fees (DHRF 2009).

The Australian Institute of Training and Development (AITD)

ATID was founded in 1971 with the objective of providing training and development to professionals. The mission of the association is to “be a leader in fostering excellence, innovation and professional integrity in training, learning and development for the workplace” (Commonwealth Australia 2012). This means that members of the AITD can enjoy the aforementioned benefits other than joining a professional body.

Membership is open to all persons from different professionals who intend to acquire knowledge and development. An individual is required to have at least tertiary qualification in order to join the association. Members of the Australian Institute of Training and Development can portray their professional relevance and commitment in career development.

The cost benefit analysis of the different associations is presented in the table 1 below

Table 1: Cost benefit analysis.

Given a choice, I would join the CIPD, SHRM and AHRI associations as doing so would assist me to develop my skills in HRM and assist in developing my career from my current stage to the next stage.

The best associations that meet my HR professionals and personal requirements are the SHRM, the AHRI and CIPD. These three associations are internationally recognized and give more emphasize on the development of HR profession. At my career stage, the SHRM has been chosen because it enhances career development and planning (SHRM 2012a, SHRM 2012).

In addition, it assists in making important decisions in career development. As noted by Jepsen and Dickson (2003) career development is an on-going process which is based on age-graded tasks and themes. Preparation is important in career planning so that an individual can perform different tasks in different career stages.

SHRM is a global HR outfit which allows different individuals from different countries to network, connect, and share their experiences. As a young employee in HR professional, SHRM would promote my skills which shall be acquired through networking and shared experiences (SHRM 2012).

At my career stage, this would increase my value as a HR professional and increase my level of competition in international market (Noe 2010). Saleh (2010) emphasizes on the importance of career marketability in the current job market characterized by globalization and increase in competition. Both CIPD and AHRI provide resources necessary for skills and knowledge development in HR profession.

With reference to my career stage, tacit skills and knowledge are important in taking my career to the next level. Moving from my current career stage requires motivation and job satisfaction to acquire job commitment (Adekola 2011).

Adekola (2011) adds that career planning and development are influenced by human resource practices and initiatives performed at the individual level. CIPD and AHRI offer human resource practices which are essential in career development.

The current work place is characterized by constant restructuring, advances in technology, downsizings, acquisitions and mergers (Adekola 2011). All these are organizational changes which have the capacity to displace an employee from his/her current position. In other words, I am vulnerable to these changes which can affect my career as a human resource profession.

However, if I become a member of CIPD and SHRM, I shall be in a position to compete internationally since I belong to a global professional body. According to Baruch (2003) organizations are constantly being affected by organizational change. The changes have implications which affect how employees are managed and their careers planned and managed.

As a HR professional knowledge and resources necessary in dealing with these changes in workplace will be essential.

Therefore, becoming a member of CIPD would enable me to get equipped with the necessary resources and knowledge required in dealing with changes in the workplace. On the other hand, being a member of AHRI, I will be in a position to get HR profession offered by the organization through its through bodies.

My current career stage involves a lot of learning (Rao 2011; Noe 2010). In addition, this is the stage where an individual finds their niche in an organization and profession. Therefore, SHRM will be important as it will assist in learning and solving HR issues (SHRM 2010). On the other hand, CIPD provides opportunities that would enable me to develop my career with the support of likeminded professionals (CIPD 21012).

This is important because it will determine my career behaviour and path (Saleh 2010). Furthermore, would also prepare me psychologically for the establishment stage, besides improving my coping behaviours in the workplace (Jespen & Dickson 2003). Being a HR professional is an indication that one will be part of the management team.

Therefore, by being a member of SHRM it would be possible to gain HR management skills necessary in managing employees in junior levels. In addition, since career development is a progressive process (Jespen & Dickson 2003), the three chosen associations would help me prepare to deal with the next phase of career development and at the same time, assist me to deal with challenges related to HR profession.

The objective of the report was to provide the human resource manager with the benefits associated with joining a local or international human resource professional association. Discussing the six professional associations mentioned above can lead to the emergence of professional associations have emerged.

Report findings show that an association like SHRM gives room for interaction and growth among a group of HR professionals. Just like CIPD, it provides an individual with necessary resources and research materials necessary for career development. By joining SHRM, a HR professional is exposed to a global network of highly valued and respected human resource professionals.

This assists in career planning and career development. Since both CIPD and SHRM are globally recognized, this increases employees’ marketability. An employee is able to increase their chances of working internationally.

Other merits include growth and development of HR professionals, provision of HR professional solutions, and provision of assistance in management, networking and sharing experiences, training and developing professionals.

At my career stage, the most suitable organizations to join would be SHRM, the AHRI, and CIPD. These three associations provide resources and network HR professionals. They also assist in career planning and development.

With the increase in organizational changes, skills and knowledge gained assist an individual in propelling their career, solving HR problems and dealing with challenges. Lastly, career development is a progressive task and as such, the organizations prepare one for the next stage and assist with challenges associated with every phase of career development.

Adekola, B. 2011, ‘Career planning and career management as correlates for career development and job satisfaction: A case study of Nigerian Bank employees,’ Australian Journal of Business and Management Research , vol. 1, no.2, pp. 100-112.

APFHRM 2012, Australian Human Resources Institute . Web.

ASHRM, 2010, Arabian society of HR management (ASHRM). Web.

Baruch, Y. 2004, ‘Transforming careers: From linear to multidirectional career paths- organisational and individual perspectives’, Career Development International , vol. 9, no.1, pp.58 -73.

CIPD 2012, CIPD membership. Web.

Commonwealth Australia 2012, Australian institute of training and development. Web.

DHRF 2009, Frequently asked questions. Web.

Jepsen, DA & Dickson, GL 2003, ‘Continuity in life-span career development: career exploration as a precursor to career establishment’, Career Development Quarterly , vol. 51, no. 3, pp. 217 – 233.

Noe, R A 2010, Careers and Career Management”, In. Noe, R A, Employee Training and development , Singapore, McGraw-Hill.

Rao, S R 2011, Career stages. Web.

Saleh, N A 2010, The organizational career management and the career behavior. Web.

SHRM 2012, The solution is SHRM: Members benefits guide. Web.

SHRM 2012a, Mission and history. Web.

SHRM 2010, 2010 SHRM annual report. Web.

• HR's Future and Effective Organizations
• Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM)
• Cirque du Soleil's- HRM practices
• Introducing Office Ergonomics in a Company
• Empowerment in an Organisation
• Effectiveness of Empowerment
• How to Start and Manage a New Hospital
• Strategic Study on Business Model of Coca-Cola
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2019, June 14). Career Planning and Career Management. https://ivypanda.com/essays/career-planning-and-career-management/

"Career Planning and Career Management." IvyPanda , 14 June 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/career-planning-and-career-management/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'Career Planning and Career Management'. 14 June.

IvyPanda . 2019. "Career Planning and Career Management." June 14, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/career-planning-and-career-management/.

1. IvyPanda . "Career Planning and Career Management." June 14, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/career-planning-and-career-management/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Career Planning and Career Management." June 14, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/career-planning-and-career-management/.

• DACA/Undocumented
• First Generation, Low Income
• International Students
• Students of Color
• Students with disabilities
• Undergraduate Students
• Master’s Students
• PhD Students
• Faculty/Staff
• Family/Supporters
• Career Fairs
• Post Jobs, Internships, Fellowships
• Build your Brand at MIT
• Recruiting Guidelines and Resources
• Connect with Us
• Career Advising
• Distinguished Fellowships
• Employer Relations
• Graduate Student Professional Development
• Prehealth Advising
• Student Leadership Opportunities
• Academia & Education
• Architecture, Planning, & Design
• Arts, Communications, & Media
• Business, Finance, & Fintech
• Computing & Computer Technology
• Data Science
• Energy, Environment, & Sustainability
• Life Sciences, Biotech, & Pharma
• Manufacturing & Transportation
• Health & Medical Professions
• Social Impact, Policy, & Law
• Getting Started & Handshake 101
• Exploring careers
• Networking & Informational Interviews
• Connecting with employers
• Resumes, cover letters, portfolios, & CVs
• Finding a Job or Internship
• Post-Graduate and Summer Outcomes
• Professional Development Competencies
• Preparing for Graduate & Professional Schools
• Preparing for Medical / Health Profession Schools
• Interviewing
• New jobs & career transitions
• Career Prep and Development Programs
• Employer Events
• Outside Events for Career and Professional Development
• Events Calendar
• Career Services Workshop Requests
• Early Career Advisory Board
• Peer Career Advisors
• Student Staff
• Mission, Vision, Values and Diversity Commitments
• News and Reports

Make a Career Plan

• Share This: Share Make a Career Plan on Facebook Share Make a Career Plan on LinkedIn Share Make a Career Plan on X

A career plan lists short- and long-term career goals and the actions you can take to achieve them. Career plans can help you make decisions about what classes to take, and identify the extracurricular activities, research, and internships that will make you a strong job candidate. Below are some helpful steps to guide you in creating a career plan customized to your interests and ambitions. Still have questions? We are here to help — set up an appointment  with a Career Advisor to get started or review your plan.

8 Steps to an Effective Career Plan

• Identify Your Career Options.  Develop a refined list of career options by examining your interests, skills, and values through self-assessment . Narrow your career options by reviewing career information, researching companies , and talking to professionals in the field . You can further narrow your list when you take part in experiences such as shadowing, volunteering, and internships.
• Prioritize. It’s not enough to list options. You have to prioritize. What are your top skills? What interests you the most? What’s most important to you? Whether it’s intellectually challenging work, family-friendly benefits, the right location or a big paycheck, it helps to know what matters to you — and what’s a deal-breaker. We provide skills and values assessments — set up an appointment with a Career Advisor to take advantage of this service.
• Make Comparisons.  Compare your most promising career options against your list of prioritized skills, interests and values.
• Consider Other Factors.  You should consider factors beyond personal preferences. What is the current demand for this field? If the demand is low or entry is difficult, are you comfortable with risk? What qualifications are required to enter the field? Will it require additional education or training? How will selecting this option affect you and others in your life? Gather advice from friends, colleagues, and family members. Consider potential outcomes and barriers for each of your final options.
• Make a Choice.  Choose the career paths that are best for you. How many paths you choose depends upon your situation and comfort level. If you’re early in your planning, then identifying multiple options may be best. You may want several paths to increase the number of potential opportunities. Conversely, narrowing to one or two options may better focus your job search or graduate school applications.
• S pecific — Identify your goal clearly and specifically.
• M easureable — Include clear criteria to determine progress and accomplishment.
• A ttainable — The goal should have a 50 percent or greater chance of success.
• R elevant — The goal is important and relevant to you.
• T ime bound — Commit to a specific timeframe.
• Create Your Career Action Plan.  It’s important to be realistic about expectations and timelines. Write down specific action steps to take to achieve your goals and help yourself stay organized. Check them off as you complete them, but feel free to amend your career action plan as needed. Your goals and priorities may change, and that’s perfectly okay.
• Meet with a Career Advisor. Our advisors are here to help you make effective career decisions.  Make an appointment on Handshake to talk about your career options and concerns.

5 easy steps for creating a career plan

Achieving goals , career discovery , career enrichment , career transitions , life coaching , self awareness.

So, you got the job. Hooray! Now you just need to do that job well and all your career dreams will come true. Right?

Or maybe you’ve been in your role for a while, working hard and doing all the “right” things. It’s only a matter of time before you’re whisked away to the management circle. Right?

Right? Well, not exactly.

Career journeys don’t end the minute you get inside a company’s doors (or remote servers). And hard work alone won’t necessarily translate to guaranteed career progression.

So what do you need to do to ensure your career path heads in the desired direction?

Table of Contents

Why do you need a career plan?

Career paths aren’t magically generated gps outputs that determine the perfect roadmap to professional satisfaction and fulfillment. To achieve those things, you need a well thought out career plan .

Career planning shouldn’t be limited to job seekers or those just entering the workforce. It can be a powerful tool at any stage of your career, and can facilitate:

• Career exploration
• Evaluating career options
• Decision making
• Identifying potential employers

A clearly defined career plan empowers you to explore all possibilities and take action accordingly.

Ama La Vida’s Career Planning Process

Ama La Vida has created a career development process that utilizes a personalized approach for every career coaching client. The newly rolled out Blueprints™ function as a career planning process template and starting point for each coaching engagement.

From there, coaches work together with their clients to tailor the blueprint to the client’s unique needs, goals, and circumstances. Ama La Vida offers two distinct blueprint options:

The Career Transition Blueprint™

• For those who are thinking about, or are in the middle of, a career change
• Support you in clarifying short- and long-term goals
• Help you identify the direction of your next career move

The above process helps clients uncover exactly what they want and create a strategy to attain it.

The Career Growth Blueprint™

• For those looking to ensure their current job meets their needs
• Support you in developing your career vision and clear next steps
• Help you with creating opportunities for yourself and navigating future career decisions

The above process aids clients with optimizing their current role and maximizing future possibilities.

It’s not about one size fits all

These Coaching Blueprints are far from a one-size-fits-all approach! Ama La Vida’s coaches take this process and personalize it to each client’s needs, timeline, and priorities.

Whether you’re exploring new professional possibilities or navigating your existing career, next steps aren’t possible without a clear career vision.

Step 1: Create your career vision

Creating your career vision starts with self-exploration to identify what’s truly important to you. The first step in most coaching engagements is doing some deep values work. Your values are simply the things that are most important to you. Consider them your non-negotiables or your “North Stars.”

When it comes to an ideal career, you’re most likely to find satisfaction and fulfillment if the work you’re doing (and who you’re doing it for) is in direct alignment with your most cherished values. Remember, your career needs to support your life, and what’s truly important to you, and not the other way around.

In addition to focusing on what’s important to you, think about what interests you and where your strengths lie. Consider reflecting on the following:

• Which tasks and projects have I found myself most interested in and fulfilled by?
• Which industry, outside of my own, have I always been curious about?
• Which of my personal interests most engage me?
• What do I truly excel at?
• What type of help or support am I regularly sought out to provide at work?

Exploring your values, career interests, and strengths will help you determine what it is you actually want.

Step 2: Do your research

Once you know what you want, it’s time to explore some jobs or industries that might help you get it. But where do you start?

Free job boards can connect you with hundreds of open roles with minimal effort. Forbes recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Free Job Posting Sites of 2024. Use these sites to explore:

• Job openings —See which industries and companies are openly recruiting for talent, and are a match for what you’re looking for
• Job titles —Utilize keywords that align with the job titles you’re looking for in order to research the specific role & responsibility information that’s required for each job

Not sure where your skills and qualifications match up with what you’re looking to do? Do a deep dive on certification and training requirements for your desired position. Identify organizations that govern or oversee a particular industry or role to see what skill gaps you may need to close.

If you’re looking to get more information on an industry, company, or specific role, consider seeking out informational interviews. Identify folks within and outside of your network who have experience in these spaces and ask them for 15 minutes of their time so that you can ask questions.

Know someone who knows someone? Ask for an introduction! A half-opened door is even more likely to get you time on someone’s calendar.

Part of the research and exploration process should include whether or not the possibilities you’ve uncovered are actually a good fit for you. It’s not just about what you can do , it’s about what you want to do .

One way to do this is through career assessments and self-assessments. There are several assessments available in the marketplace that measure strengths, working styles and preferences, personality types, and more. Utilize these resources to suss out where you might excel or struggle, and where your talents and skills may be best suited.

Be prepared for some deep introspection and perhaps even a reality check! You might be going into this research with a narrow vision of what’s tangible and attainable; keep an open mind and allow yourself to embrace your findings.

Step 3: Set your career goals

A big part of the career planning process involves setting clear and actionable goals for yourself. When coming up with your professional goals, consider the EPIC goals model:

• Elevating – They’re motivational and inspiring—connected to your “Why”
• Practical – They’re reasonable and achievable—even if they are stretch goals!
• Impactful – They’re meaningful and life changing—bring you closer to your career vision
• Clear – They’re definable and measurable—establish metrics and deadlines

Some reflection questions to consider when setting career goals:

• Which career options and paths, although realistic and attainable, am I simply not interested in?
• Which would require additional education or training in order to be attainable?
• Which of my leadership and technical skills am I looking to maximize within my career role?

Remember that your career goals are YOURS, and should be reflective of the things that you want to achieve and do not need to align with a “typical” trajectory within your career field.

Step 4: Turn your career goals into a career action plan

Now that you’ve established your career goals it’s time to take action! First, consider what career plan steps are necessary and which order makes the most sense for you.

Thinking chronologically, a good first step might be to break things down by short-term goals and long-term goals. But, there are many ways to structure a career action plan.

Planning a career change and need additional education or to learn new skills? Your first step might be to:

• Enroll in an in-person or virtual class that will help you develop the skills you need
• Research what internships might be available at companies within your new desired career field
• Look for entry level positions that might provide you with on-the-job training

Looking to change jobs but remain in your current industry or career field? Your first step might be to:

• Update your resume and cover letters
• Work on your LinkedIn profile and get more active on the platform
• Let your professional network know that you’re looking to make a move and see who can support you in your job search

Happy in your current role but looking to build up your leadership skills and presence? Your first step might be to:

• Consider what leadership development training and/or coaching resources are available to you
• Look into joining professional associations that are aligned with your current industry or role

Remember, any first step in an action step!

Step 5: Check in on your progress

An important step in working your career development plan is to revisit it regularly to evaluate your progression. Seeing what you’ve already achieved is a tremendous motivator!

Revisiting your plan also allows you the opportunity to make changes to it. A good career plan won’t remain static, and should morph as your goals, priorities, and desired accomplishments change over time.

Your career plan is a resource tool, not a binding agreement. It’s meant to be a fluid document that works for you and your needs at any given time.

Start Planning!

The benefits of a comprehensive and workable career plan are immeasurable, but it can be a daunting undertaking. You don’t have to go it alone!

Consider partnering with a coach to help you flesh out each step of your career plan, AND get the support you need as you work your plan.

Use this link to book a free consult to get matched with an Ama La Vida coach!

Related Articles

June 2024 Tech Backgrounds

Achieving goals.

Ama La Vida

As June begins, we’re excited to embrace the warmer weather and sunnier days! Let’s make this summer as meaningful and intentional as possible. Get our latest tech backgrounds and reminders to inspire you to prioritize taking care of yourself and your community this month. Download our tech backgrounds to dress up your phone and computer […]

What Are Your Professional Goals?

Career discovery.

What are your professional goals? It’s a question that can make even the most seasoned professionals pause. Whether you’re just starting out or well into your career, setting professional goals is crucial. It’s about more than just climbing the corporate ladder. It’s worth taking the time to figure out your professional goals. This process is […]

How To Find A Career Coach

Laura McFadden

Let’s face it, no one ever teaches you how to navigate your career. At best, we get half-hearted questions like, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” and “Do you know what you’re going to do when you finish school?” From there, you can try to find a mentor or hope for […]

TechRepublic

Techrepublic resource library.

IT white papers, webcasts, case studies, and much more - all free to registered TechRepublic members.

• Find Search or Browse our extensive library
• Download Free resources at the click of a button
• Solve If you have a problem, we have the solution

Featured Resources

Quick glossary: insurance technology.

The insurance industry is a major component of any economy by virtue of the amount of premiums it collects, the scale of its investments and, more fundamentally, the essential social and economic role it plays by covering personal and business risks. In the U.S. and most European countries, a significant portion of the population typically ...

Hiring Kit: Prompt Engineer

The application of artificial intelligence to business and organizational operations, particularly generative AI, is predicted to be one of the fastest growing areas of worldwide job growth for the next decade at least. Successfully fitting established AI technology such as language models into the everyday functions of a business organization requires technical expertise, experience and ...

Hiring Kit: Web3 Technical Writer

Successful Web3 technical writers craft compelling and customer-oriented content by translating complex information and documentation into a simple and cohesive form. With a strong background in emerging technologies like blockchain and Web3, they have the ability to communicate brand vision to end users. This hiring kit, written by Avya Chaudhary for TechRepublic Premium, provides a ...

How to Manage File and Folder Permissions in Linux

From the beginning, Linux has made it possible for admins and users to get fairly granular with file and folder permissions. From the user perspective, it’s simple: If you created a file, you own it and have permission to read or write to the file. But that doesn’t always apply to the ability to execute ...

Employee Termination Policy

Whether due to resignation, layoff or firing, separating employees from the business is never a pleasant process nor is it always easy. Because many staff members have access to confidential data or company assets, it is critical to utilize a series of detailed and comprehensive steps to complete employee terminations and streamline the experience as ...

Hiring Kit: Cryptography Engineer

Cryptography engineers often collaborate with cybersecurity teams to integrate robust cryptographic solutions into software, hardware and network infrastructure, addressing potential vulnerabilities and mitigating risks associated with data breaches or cyberattacks. This hiring kit, written by Franklin Okeke for TechRepublic Premium, provides a practical framework you can use to hire the ideal cryptography engineer for your ...

Quick Glossary: Edge Computing

Edge computing is a distributed computing approach that delivers hosted cloud services, storage resources and other data processing capacities closer to the data’s source. Although its origins began in the late 1990s, edge computing has become more prevalent in recent years as a way to increase the efficiency in data processing. Megan Crouse, writing for ...

How to Optimize the apt Package Manager on Debian-Based Linux Distributions

When it comes to Linux and installing software via the package manager, you can always ensure the system will be aware of the package, updates are easily applied and systems can always be repaired (should they go awry). In this guide, Jack Wallen writing for TechRepublic Premium, explains how to make the most out of ...

Find By Topic

• Artificial Intelligence
• Collaboration
• Data Centers
• Data Management
• Digital Transformation
• Virtualization

TechRepublic Premium

• More Topics 5G After Hours Amazon Android Apple Asean Australia Banking CIO50 CXO Consumerization Decade in Review Digital Health and Wellness E-Commerce EU Enterprise Software GDPR Google Google Hangout IT Policies India Internet of Things Microsoft Open source Printers Project Management SMBs Samsung Security Smart Cities Smart Office Social enterprise Software Start-Ups Tech & Work Tech Industry

Latest From TechRepublic Premium

Latest from Premium

Recent Additions

Nist cybersecurity framework: a cheat sheet for professionals (free pdf).

The tech world has a problem: Security fragmentation. There’s no standard set of rules or even language for mitigating cyber risk used to address the growing threats of hackers, ransomware and stolen data, and the threat to data only continues to grow. President Barack Obama recognized the cyber threat in 2013, which led to his ...

Predictions 2024: Executive Edition

Ready or not, here comes 2024. From resilience to board priorities, Splunk executives across security, IT and engineering weigh in on what to expect in the era of AI. AI: The hype will pay off, but business impact will take another 12-24 months. C-suite transformation: CISOs, CTOs and CIOs will have expanded roles in the ...

The AI Philosophy Powering Digital Resilience

3 AI Strategies for Cybersecurity and Observability As organizations embrace dispersed architecture, grapple with an evolving threat landscape and heavily rely on digital systems, AI steps in as a promising solution to control IT chaos. But without clear guardrails that address data privacy and security concerns, we must determine how to build AI models that ...

Vix Makes Travels Safer and Smoother With Proactive Global Visibility

Vix Technology is a global leader in intelligent transportation systems, automated fare collection, and transit analytics. Transit agencies and operators — including the major transportation systems of major cities like Edmonton and Seattle — rely on Vix to help travelers process fare payments and arrive safely and on time at their destination. Previously, Vix relied ...

Observability Buyer’s Guide

This guide is for ITOps and engineering leaders and practitioners who want to lower the cost of unplanned downtime. Learn why Splunk customers like Lenovo, Puma and Rappi lean on observability as a critical solution for modern software development and discover how an observability practice can improve digital resilience. In this guide, you’ll get: An ...

Evolving From Monitoring: Why Observability Is Essential for Your Business

Faster is better, especially for businesses. Cloud-native technologies — while they deliver customer-facing applications and new features faster than ever — come with potential challenges, like complex dependencies. For every deployment, there are new potential errors, slowness or outages. Monitoring solutions have come a long way, but they often fall short in modern environments. That’s ...

Observability Predictions 2024

We’re sitting squarely at the beginning of an AI hype cycle that will cause businesses to rethink their people, processes and technology. What emerging trends do we see around the corner in the observability space? AI: AI will bring an explosion of productivity across environments, applications, microservices — as well as an uptick in data ...

Why You Need a Single Tool for Infrastructure Monitoring and APM

Now, more than ever, many organizations face immense challenges to maximize revenue. Inflation. Tighter budgets. Cost reallocations. Competitive growth opportunities. Whatever the reason, they demand highly available, customer-facing applications and services that rely on a high-performing and reliable underlying infrastructure. And they want it all without excessive spending on engineering resources. To achieve this goal, ...

State of Ecommerce in India

The ecommerce industry is hugely important to India, and opportunities abound for existing and new players alike. But amid such a competitive landscape, it’s crucial for ecommerce organisations to deliver the best possible digital experiences to those making purchases online. The State of Ecommerce in India report provides insights into the current state of the ...

State of Observability in Retail

Today, the retail industry faces new macroeconomic challenges, with the rapid increase in energy costs, high inflation, and supply chain disruptions. As the threat of shrinking margins looms, retailers are focusing on cost reduction and strategic investments to ensure the best possible business value without sacrificing the customer experience. While omnichannel is essential, retailers don’t ...

TechRepublic Premium, directly to your inbox. Sign up today.

Create a techrepublic account.

Get the web's best business technology news, tutorials, reviews, trends, and analysis—in your inbox. Let's start with the basics.

* - indicates required fields

Sign in to TechRepublic

Lost your password? Request a new password

Reset Password

Please enter your email adress. You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password.

Check your email for a password reset link. If you didn't receive an email don't forgot to check your spam folder, otherwise contact support .

Welcome. Tell us a little bit about you.

This will help us provide you with customized content.

Want to receive more TechRepublic news?

You're all set.

Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye out for a confirmation email from our team. To ensure any newsletters you subscribed to hit your inbox, make sure to add [email protected] to your contacts list.