Navigating Career Development for College Students

I’m going to cover a lot of ground on today’s podcast, starting with a definition of career development:

According to Wikipedia:

Career development refers to the process an individual may undergo to evolve their occupational status. It is the process of making decisions for long-term learning, to align personal needs of physical or psychological fulfillment with career advancement opportunities. Career Development can also refer to the total encompassment of an individual's work-related experiences, leading up to the occupational role they may hold within an organization.

"A well-rounded application of career development tools establishes a robust framework that facilitates a growth mindset, encourages wholesome employee development, and drives organizational success."

What does all that mean? Career development is a lifelong process of growth and advancement – not only in terms of advancing to higher job levels, but advancement in the sense of ongoing learning and personal growth as a result of professional development and experience.

When I was the director of university career centers, my focus was on the career development of matriculating college students – helping them figure out what they wanted to be when they grew up and helping them land their first-destination job.

In working with those college students, we focused on:

#1: Self-knowledge – identifying interests, skills, and values

#2: Knowledge of the World of Work – gaining critical information about various occupations

#3: Career Decision-Making – Narrowing the options down through internships, shadowing, part-time jobs, study abroad experiences, and mentorships

#4: Taking Action – The process of finding a job in the chosen field

In this episode, I really want to focus on those of you already in your career, particularly in a career path you love. If you don’t love the path you are on, there are plenty of resources available for you, and I’ve done podcast episodes to help you as well.

Some companies do an excellent job of providing career development paths and opportunities for their employees; other companies financially support their employees seeking career development through outside organizations. Still others don’t consider this a priority AT ALL.

For those of you fortunate enough to have an excellent in-house program, you probably don’t need my words of wisdom on this topic. But for those of you who are own your own – whether financially supported by your company or not – I have some strategies.

Here’s a breakdown of the process of career development for those of you on your chosen career path:

#1: Self-assessment – For you, this might look like conducting a self-SWOT – what are your strengths? Areas for growth? What are the emerging areas of opportunity in your field? What are possible threats to your career field, such as AI or offshoring?

#2: Goal-setting – Once you’ve assessed yourself, set a SMART goal for career development. This could include additional formal education, a certification, or working with a coach to address a weakness in your professional development.

#3: Action planning – Once you’ve set at least one SMART goal, establish a plan to make it happen. This might include calendaring in time for each step of your goal, looking into resources/options, or asking a mentor to help hold you accountable.

#4: Implementation – Now it is time to DO. Attend the course or program, study for the certification exam, or start the job shadowing your boss approved.

#5: Refinement – As you implement the steps to your goal, you’ll likely want to make a few mid-course adjustments. Have you realized you need to take one more class? Do you need to ask your boss for additional support? Do you need to ask for help at home so you have time to study?

Here are my suggestions for getting the career development assistance you need:

Get out of your office. 

There are two main points I want to make here: workshops, seminars, and conferences are excellent opportunities to learn from experts, expand your professional knowledge, and meet potential mentors. Also, building and nurturing professional relationships through networking can provide you with valuable insights and opportunities for career development. Platforms like LinkedIn are great for connecting with professionals in your field, joining industry groups, and staying updated on trends.

Why this helps: These opportunities can help you identify areas you want to work on (#1) and may lead you to your SMART goal (#2). You may also be implementing your goal, such as a learning objective, which satisfies #4.

Seek professional help.

Here we are talking about working with a career counselor, career coach, or life coach to help you with all five steps. It is important to know what you want help with, then ask friends and colleagues for referrals and schedule complimentary consults/ discovery calls. You also have the option of 1:1 work versus group programs.

Why this helps: As I said, a professional can help you with all five steps – identifying the areas you want to work on, goal-setting, action planning, implementation, and refinement.

Access what you need.

Online learning platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offer all kinds of courses and tutorials on topics to strengthen your technical skills, leadership, communication, professional etiquette, and interpersonal skills.

There are also books, publications, and podcasts available, ranging from general career advice to industry-specific or career-specific information.

Platforms like Indeed, Glassdoor, and Monster provide resources for researching companies, finding job opportunities, reading reviews from current and former employees, and accessing career-related articles and advice.

Continuing education programs, certificate programs, and degree-seeking programs can help you advance in your current career. Many universities and online platforms offer flexible options for working professionals.

Finally, there are government and nonprofit resources that offer career development resources and services like job training programs, resume assistance, and job placement services.

Why this helps: These resources can help you plan, implement, and refine your career development plan.

Get a mentor(s).

Your employer may have a formalized mentorship program or you may have to find one on your own. Depending on your goals, an external mentor may work for you. Be specific about why you want that person to be your mentor and clearly define what you want that person to do for you.

Why this helps: Depending on your goals and the mentor(s) you choose, they may be able to assist with self-assessment (#1), goal setting (#2), action planning (#3), implementation (#4) and refinement (#5).

Seek to stretch.

Depending on your situation, your boss, mentor, or another professional in your organization can help you get stretch assignments that will help you grow professionally. These might include leading a project, managing people (or more people), cross-training in another department or function, or being a member of a high-level/high-visibility committee or team.

Be sure to pay attention to what you are learning, new skills you are developing – and how your energy is during this time. Are you energized by the new activities or feeling drained? This is key information.

Why this helps: Stretch assignments may be key to success in your Implementation phase (#4). You may also find these assignments provide you with more self-information, which may impact your career development goals.

The bottom line: If your company doesn’t provide a structured career development program, or if the program they offer doesn’t fully meet your needs, it is YOUR responsibility to fill in the gaps.

Don’t moan about what isn’t being offered to you – go out and get it. Be proactive, goal-oriented, and assertive in getting what you want and need for your career success.

Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The document and coaching programs offered by Exclusive Career Coaching will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.

If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more: 

https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2