About Career Planning: How to Get Your Career Off to a Good Start

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Career Planning Career Planning Start Your Career Career Change Career Advancement From Dawn Rosenberg McKay, your Guide to Career Planning Are you just beginning to plan your career or perhaps making a change? While there are no guarantees that you are going to end up in a career you love, some careful planning before you get started can improve your odds. Forget What You Think You Know About Career Planning Many people think they know how to pick the best career: Choose something from a "best careers" list Ask your parents (or best friend, neighbor, etc.) Just go for the money and happiness will follow None of these things will help you find a suitable career and, in fact, you will likely end up doing something you don't enjoy. Read More: Career Planning Myths See More About:  career choice  career counselors  career tests Discover Who You Are Unless you know yourself well—your likes and dislikes, interests and values—you will have a hard time figuring out whether you will like and be successful in a career. A self assessment can help you learn about yourself. Read More: What is a Self Assessment See More About:  self assessment  value inventories  interest inventories Explore Your Options The more I learn about different occupations, the more interesting I find them ... and the more I realize that certain ones are definitely not right for me. A particular occupation may sound ideal, but you should always do your homework in order to learn more about it. Read More: How to Explore Your Career Options See More About:  career exploration  career tests  career choice A Career Action Plan Is Your Road Map to a Successful Career Just as you shouldn't leave for a trip to an unfamiliar destination without good directions, you shouldn't embark on your career without a carefully written plan. After you do a thorough self assessment and then explore your options, write a career action plan. Read More: Developing a Career Action Plan See More About:  career action plans  career change  career choice Career Planning Ads Planning a Career Career Pathway Care Career Human Capital Career Career Web Site Featured Articles Free Career Planning Class 6 Reasons to Make a Change Helping Your Children Make Career Choices What Do College Career Services Offices Do? Before You Buy Career Books Getting Help from a Professional   More from About.com 2011's Cutest Winter Boots Snuggly snow boots are essential for women who live in cold climates, but still want to put their best foot forward. More> 10 Budget Work Essentials Figuring out how to pay for a fabulous work wardrobe can be a challenge. These 10 mix-and-max essentials are all under $50. More> This newsletter is written by: Dawn Rosenberg McKay Career Planning Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Career Planning newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2011 About.com   Must Reads Making a Career Change Career Profiles Career Quizzes Fastest Growing Jobs How to Choose a Career Advertisement