Articles

Career Pathing

Career pathing is a process of planning your career goals and identifying the steps you need to take to achieve them. It involves assessing your current skills, interests, and values, exploring different career options and opportunities, and creating a realistic action plan to reach your desired destination.

Career pathing can help you make informed decisions about your education, training, and work choices. By doing career pathing, you can:

  • Discover your strengths and passions and align them with your career aspirations
  • Identify the skills and qualifications you need to succeed in your chosen field or occupation
  • Find out the requirements and expectations of different industries and sectors
  • Explore various pathways and possibilities within your field or occupation
  • Set realistic and achievable short-term and long-term goals
  • Monitor your progress and adjust your plan as needed
  • Increase your motivation and confidence

Career pathing can also help you prepare for the changing world of work. You can learn to adapt to new trends and technologies, cope with challenges and uncertainties, and seize new opportunities.

Who Can Do Career Pathing?

Career pathing is suitable for anyone who wants to plan their career development and advancement. You can do career pathing if you are:

  • A learner who is choosing subjects or courses for Grade 10 or higher education
  • A student who is studying at a college, university, or training provider
  • A graduate who is looking for a job or further studies
  • An employee who is working part-time or full-time
  • A job seeker who is searching for a new or better job
  • A career changer who is considering a different field or occupation

You can do career pathing at any stage of your career journey. You can also revisit your career plan regularly and update it as your circumstances change.

How to Do Career Pathing?

There are many ways to do career pathing. Some of the most common ones are:

  • Doing self-assessment: You can use various tools and methods to assess your skills, interests, values, personality, and preferences. You can also ask for feedback from others who know you well, such as your friends, family, teachers, mentors, or colleagues.
  • Doing research: You can use various sources of information to research different career options and opportunities. You can also talk to people who work in your desired field or occupation, such as your network, role models, or experts.
  • Doing exploration: You can use various ways to explore different career paths and possibilities. You can also try out different activities that expose you to your desired field or occupation, such as volunteering, shadowing, interning, or apprenticing.
  • Doing planning: You can use various tools and methods to create a realistic action plan for your career goals. You can also set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives and identify the resources and support you need.
  • Doing implementation: You can use various strategies to execute your action plan and achieve your career goals. You can also monitor your progress and evaluate your outcomes.

How to Get Help with Career Pathing?

You don’t have to do career pathing alone. You can get help from various sources of support and guidance. Some of the most common ones are:

  • Career advisors: You can consult with professional career advisors who can provide you with information, advice, and counselling on your career choices. You can find them at schools, colleges, universities, training providers, SETAs (Sector Education and Training Authorities), or online platforms.
  • Career coaches: You can work with professional career coaches who can help you with personal development and goal setting. You can find them at private agencies or online platforms.
  • Career mentors: You can connect with experienced professionals who can mentor you on your career journey. You can find them at workplaces, communities, industry associations, or online platforms.

Career pathing is a valuable process that can help you plan your career goals and achieve them. By doing career pathing, you can discover your potential and pursue your passion.