Career development plans often focus on specific roles and what skills or experiences an employee needs in order to grow at one company. Those types of plans are very important, but I think employees also need to spend time developing lifetime career development plans. What do you want out of your work? What varied experiences do you want in your life? What will the arc of your career look like?
Every year I plan a vacation with my family over the New Year's holiday. We're intentional about our vacations. Do we want a city or a beach vacation? Where haven't we been in the world? What new experience do we want? Our goal is to travel to as many countries as possible and to authentically experience the people and the culture of the places we visit. Career planning should be done in the same way, and it should be as intentional and as focused on the big picture of the experiences you want in your life.
I often think about the story I want to paint with my career. I have worked for the federal government, for nonprofits and for public and private companies. All of these experiences have taught me things; I have learned from each place and put the learnings in my toolbox.
When I started my career working for the federal government, I saw how different administrations affect the focus and direction of executive branch agencies. It was a great lesson in how one person's goals can truly impact the workforce. More recently I was working at a Fortune 10 company. I was there for over a decade and had amazing opportunities in very different parts of the business to grow and learn. I saw a company at scale that had great leaders who were meticulous decision-makers and extremely thoughtful before taking a risk. I learned how strong processes could be leveraged across the world.
I knew that what I had learned at one of the world's largest companies was valuable and could be leveraged at a growing company. Could I take the processes I had learned and implement them at a company that was growing? I knew I needed that kind of experience because I hadn't been in an environment that was in hyper-growth mode. I decided to move to Tesla because it is a company known for moving fast and challenging every norm. I knew I had a lot to learn in addition to what I could contribute to help the organization. It was an incredible experience, and I also learned about the power of a mission that is so meaningful that it can drive the workforce to achieve more than they imagine is possible.
There are many ways you can approach creating your plan, but I think it is important to first consider what you truly enjoy doing. Make sure that any plan you create weaves that interest through all the facets of your plan. For me, I love working with people and helping companies improve. Every role I have pursued, no matter the industry or size, has had those key aspects. What I have learned has varied, but that core piece has remained steady throughout.
Secondly, think about what you want to learn and think about the order in which you want to learn those things. You will have short-term goals and long-term goals. The short term-goals will involve specific skills and experiences you need to reach your long-term goal. You may be able to stay at the same company and check off numerous short-term goals. For example, I wanted to learn at a big company first because I felt that it would help to see a company doing performance management, succession planning, employee relations, etc. at scale. I wanted to learn from expert practitioners and to see how the approach varied when working with different countries. I also wanted to manage a team. I was able to do all of those things while staying with the same company but moving through different positions.
Thirdly, think about what you want to do with what you will have learned. My career plan involved taking what I had learned at a large corporation and using those learnings at evolving and growing companies. Could you take those processes you'll learn and implement them at other companies? Could you take the best of what you see and adapt it to different company cultures and different industries? Could you learn from others to see how they move quickly to try new things and how to fail fast and get right back up again?
It is extremely helpful when thinking about building your plan to talk to others. Just as you might ask other travelers for tips on places to visit, you should do the same when thinking about your career plan. One interesting way to get feedback is to talk to recruiters and executive search professionals. What gaps do they see in your resume? Is there anything that you should do in the course of your career that would greatly enhance your experience, and thus your marketability? Talk to your mentors, friends, family and peers to get a variety of ideas. However, at the end of the day, remember that it is your life and your career plan. Do what is right for you and what resonates most for you. Every path is different, and often the most unique paths are the most rewarding.
In much the same way that I have pitched a tent, relaxed in a five-star hotel room or trekked in the Serengeti, my career has been just as varied and interesting. We can't be certain what the future will bring, but having a lifetime career development plan helps us set our course.
