How to Develop a Career Plan

Most people think career success comes from making the perfect decision. It doesn’t. It comes from making timely, values-aligned ones. Especially when the next step feels unclear. One of my clients, a brilliant VP, spent 3 months stuck on a single choice: “Do I speak up about being overlooked, or wait for my work to speak for itself?” She called it strategic patience. But it was really fear disguised as overthinking. We ran it through this framework. She made the call. Six weeks later, her promotion was fast-tracked. She was finally seen, heard, and most importantly, included. Because here’s what I tell every high-achiever I coach: You don’t need more time to decide. You need a better way to decide. Try the 2-Minute Decision Framework™ (Career Edition): 1. QUICK DECISIONS → Handle it NOW For low-stakes tasks that clog your mental bandwidth: → Can you respond to that email in < 2 minutes? → Is the request low risk and easily reversible? → Are you spiraling on something that just needs action? ✅ Do it. Momentum builds trust and confidence. (Your career doesn’t stall in the big moves, it drips away through tiny indecisions.) 2. TEAM DECISIONS → Resolve it TODAY For collaborative work or project bottlenecks: → Who’s recommending this approach? → Who’s doing the work? → Who’s accountable for the final call? ✍️ Assign roles. Align expectations. Move forward. (Most team confusion comes from no one knowing who’s driving.) Use this anytime you’re: – Leading a cross-functional project – Navigating performance reviews – Building team trust through shared clarity 3. CAREER DECISIONS → Make it THIS WEEK For decisions that affect your growth, visibility, and voice: Use the 3–2–1 Method: → 3 options: Brainstorm career paths, scripts, or solutions → 2 perspectives: Ask two mentors, not the whole internet → 1 call: Choose the path aligned with your long game 🎯 Clarity > complexity. Every time. This works for: – Deciding whether to advocate for a raise or promotion – Considering a lateral move for growth – Navigating visibility or speaking up on tough issues The truth is: courageous careers aren’t built on perfect plans. They’re built on small, aligned decisions made with intention. That’s C.H.O.I.C.E.® in action. So here’s your coaching moment: 🔥 Pick one decision you’ve been avoiding. Run it through the framework. Make the call within the next hour. Then ask yourself: What changed when I finally decided? ❓ What’s one career decision you’ve been sitting on too long? Share it below, or DM me, and we’ll run it through together. 🔖 Save this for your next “Should I…?” moment 👥 Tag someone who needs this framework in their toolkit Because alignment isn’t found in overthinking. It’s built through C.H.O.I.C.E.®. ➕ Follow Loren Rosario - Maldonado, PCC for tools that actually work in real life. #CareerCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment

It's easy freak out about the job market right now. But, there is a silver lining in all of this uncertainty. The smart move? Use this time to invest in yourself. I learned this the hard way, wasting too much time trying to make a move during the Great Recession and getting no results. At first, I panicked. Then I realized the job market was completely out of my control and decided to focus on something that wasn't: Expanding my skillset and getting a new certification. ⭐Within 10 months, I was promoted from recruiting to leading PR and external affairs. ⭐Within 4 years, I was recruited to a dream job Bottom line: This isn't the time to just sit back and relax. And panicking won't help. When the job market turns (and it will!) you want to be ready to go. Here's what to do now to set yourself up for success: 1️⃣ Create Your Own Opportunities ↳ Volunteer for high-visibility projects ↳ Solve problems nobody owns yet ↳ Document your wins meticulously 2️⃣ Build Strategic Relationships ↳ Network across departments and externally ↳ Find mentors who challenge your thinking ↳ Be the go-to person others count on for something specific 3️⃣ Learn In-Demand Skills ↳ Master data analysis and visualization ↳ Build AI savvy and experience ↳ Pick up tools to manage complex projects 4️⃣ Develop As A Thought Leader ↳ Share insights from your daily work ↳ Write internal newsletters or reports ↳ Present at team meetings consistently 5️⃣ Volunteer in Your Community ↳ Search for organizations aligned with your values ↳ Find out what help they need most ↳ Take on a leadership role to make connections or build skills 6️⃣ Teach Others ↳ Choose something you genuinely enjoy ↳ Take a deep dive into it so you can teach it to others ↳ Check out community centers, and local colleges for adjunct roles 7️⃣ Start a Side Gig ↳ What can you do that others can't or won't? ↳ Let friends, family and neighbors know what you're doing ↳ Ask people to refer you and share testimonials on social media 💡Career growth isn't just about changing jobs. It's about owning your own professional development. ♻️ Share to help others grow professionally. 🔔 Follow Sarah Baker Andrus for more career insights. 📌 Need help with your growth strategy? DM me to chat.

“I don’t know what I want to do with my career…” Let’s just go ahead and normalize this. Because more people are here than you think. And not just once, sometimes multiple times throughout their lives. (I know I’ve been here. More than once.) But the part we don’t talk about enough? The HOW. → How do you figure out what you actually want? → What fits? → What makes sense for your life now? So here’s what I’ve learned from being that person and helping other people work through this same exact thing: 1. Stop trying to force yourself to pick a job title. - Scrolling job boards hoping something clicks? - That usually leads to frustration. - Truth is, most of us don’t even know how to name what we’re looking for. Start by asking: → What kinds of problems do I enjoy solving? → What work has felt most like me, even if the title didn’t reflect it? → What do people always ask me for help with? 2. Look at the why behind your past roles (and other parts of your life). → What were you brought in to do? → What made you feel useful or alive? → What did you outgrow, and what did that teach you? Your career has patterns. You just haven’t been taught how to read them yet. 3. Use this filter: Pay. Power. Peace. → Can you live off it? → Do your strengths actually matter here? → Can you breathe? If it doesn’t hit at least 2 of the 3, it’s probably not it. 4. Don’t just run to quit your job, run small experiments. You don’t need to burn it all down. You need data. → Try a course. → Join a project outside your usual lane. → Ask someone, “What do you actually do in your role?” Clarity is built in motion—not in your head. 5. Keep a “Could-Be-Me” list. Every time something lights you up, write it down. Then ask: → Why does this resonate? → What strengths do I already have? → What would I need to build? No pressure. Just explore. 6. Create a Career Criteria list. Think beyond the job. Ask: → What kind of life do I want? → Flexibility or structure? → Am I best front-and-center or behind the scenes? → What are my absolute no’s? You’re not trying to fit into a job, you’re building a career that fits you. Let me say this: If you’re in the “I have no clue what I want to do” season… -You’re not broken. -You’re not late. -You’re just being honest with yourself. And that’s where real clarity begins. If you want support figuring it out with guidance, strategy, and real community, I got you. Drop “PATH” in the comments or DM me and I’ll send you the info to join the P.A.T.H. Forward™ Community. You’re not behind. You’re in the middle of realignment. And that’s brave as hell. 💥 _______________ Join the P.A.T.H. Forward Community: https://lnkd.in/gDMj8V5r Hi, I’m Erica Rivera, CPCC, CPRW. 👋 Voice-finder. Story-shaper. Career strategist. I help you untangle the career story you were handed — and rewrite it in a way that aligns with your values, your vision, and your next chapter.

Read this if you're trying to figure out what to do next (I'm in the same boat and I think we should figure it out together) I've had a ton of phases in my career. Everything from working in a factory making folders and folder accessories to a startup executive. I've moved countries 2x. And I've outgrown the jobs I thought I would love forever. Which is to say I can't count the times I've been here, asking myself: WTF should I do next? Over the years I've also helped a lot of people at this precise juncture. When they're looking for answers through personality tests, career consultants, and friend and family opinions. Which is to say: they're looking in all the wrong places. Career clarity doesn't come from the outside. It comes from listening to your inner knowing and then executing on strategy. The tricky part is getting to that inner knowing. Here is the process that have never failed me or my clients: ✨ Define a mission: what's your overarching goal or impact you want to create ✨ Get Your Priorities straight: what matters to you most? Stack rank those priorities. ✨ Tap into your UAQ: this is what sets you apart, uniquely qualifies you, and aligns with your highest potential ✨ Design multiple paths: create 3-5 pathways you could walk down ✨ Prototype them: Interview people in those career paths, volunteer, or drop a test product. Yesterday I did some work to get clearer on my mission. For me, this involved free writing following my go-to prompts, letting whatever came out come out, and giving myself permission to do something different and something big. What about the rest? I'm getting there, and I'll be sharing it along the way. PS: I'll drop my mission into the comments in case you're curious to know what it is. PPS: This clarity exercise will work for you if you're in the corporate game, startup world, or creating your own business! #CareerBestie

Hey there, it’s me, your coach Nina, how are you today? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the exciting but vast possibilities in your career? Society, your parents, friends, strangers on social media, and even your own expectations have all been suggesting paths you “should” take professionally. If you're intellectually curious and enjoy learning, you likely have a strong drive to grow already. You might already have some ideas about where you want to go and how to get there. However, with endless possibilities and only 24 hours in a day, it's important to have a focused and sustainable approach to your career development, one that prevents overwhelm and burnout. Here are some strategies to consider: 1️⃣ List out your career goals: What do you really want in your career? Is it money, title, creative freedom, influence, fame, or making an impact? In my early career I wanted to get promoted because the society says so, but after a few years I started to optimize for learning new experiences (hence jumping from corporate to startup to stand up a new team.) 2️⃣ Figure out your why: understand why you want to achieve something adds meaning and boosts motivation. Are you aiming for FIRE (financial independence to retire early), seeking respect as a manager, or craving intellectual exploration? 3️⃣ Define success: know your destination helps you figure out what resources or skills you need to get there. For instance, aspiring to be a people manager might require learning how to inspire others. 4️⃣ Identify the resources you need: Just like planning a trip, you need to know what to pack for your career journey. Determine the skills or knowledge necessary for your dream role. 5️⃣ Choose how to learn: Different people prefer different learning methods—reading, visual cues, podcasts, or hands-on experience. Find what works best for you and experiment if you're unsure. 6️⃣ Practice: Apply your new skills whenever possible. Shadow others, volunteer for projects, and actively develop the competencies you need. 7️⃣ Reflect regularly: Set a monthly reminder to assess your progress and adjust your strategies if needed. 8️⃣ Seek accountability: Remember the saying, "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." Find a mentor, friend, or a coach friend to support and hold you accountable. What strategies have you used or would you recommend to feel less overwhelmed and more empowered in your career growth? #careerdevelopment #professionaldevelopment #midcareer