Career development at a crossroads? How to design a five-year plan

Do you feel like your career development is at a crossroads? Do you know you want to get ahead, but are unsure how to get there?

You need a plan.

But not just any plan; your career development needs a five-year plan. Mapping out the next five years might sound like a lot, but it will empower you, keep you focused, motivated, and on track for personal and career growth. It will help you determine which skills you need to develop next, and the actions you can take towards achieving your goals.

Ready to take charge of your career development? Here's our comprehensive guide to designing a five-year career development plan.

Why is a five-year career development plan important?

If you lack direction in your current role or feel like you're at a crossroads, a career development plan will help you visualise where you want to be and what you need to do to get there. It provides a clear roadmap, enabling you to work out the kind of career development program that will help fill the gaps in your skills that might be holding you back from your career goals. By aligning your career goals with clear actions, you can start making decisions to move your career in the right direction.

Creating any kind of plan fuels your motivation, and a career development plan is no exception. In addition to feeling more optimistic about working towards your career goals, a personal development plan can also help you anticipate roadblocks to your career development, and how to mitigate them.

Why five years? Because anything less is insufficient to keep you focused on the big picture. Big goals tend to take multiple years to reach, particularly when you need to develop new skills.

How to design a 5-year career development plan

Not sure where to start? This step-by-step guide outlines how to design your five-year career development plan.

Step 1. Define your career goals

Start by identifying your career goals. Where would you like to be in five years? If this question seems overwhelming, start with a brainstorm. Consider your values, passions, and strengths. This requires self-reflection, so don't be afraid to lay it all bare.

Be specific with your goals. If you want to be a leader, what kind of leader would you like to be? The clearer you are now, the easier it will be to map out your next steps.

Step 2. Assess your skills and experience gaps

Next, review the skills, experience and qualifications you currently have. Where are the ‘opportunity’ gaps or areas for development that will help you reach your goals? Your five-year plan should outline how you can address these,

whether through a career development program, leadership program, mentoring, or taking on new projects.