This http://www.WorkTree.com career article gives job
seekers some important guidelines on creating a career map.

Whether you are unemployed or have an unfulfilling job, you probably
suffer from an ailment that plagues many people: career
disorientation. You are not where you want to be professionally.
Somewhere along the road to professional happiness you veered off
course and lost your way. If you are driving and become lost, a map
is a handy tool to help get back on course. A career map is just as
useful in curing career disorientation. 

This month's newsletter describes how to develop your own personal
career map. Once you know the path you want to take, it is much
easier to get where you want to go. 

These four key elements will be covered: 

1. Finding The Big Picture 
2. Do Some Research 
3. Start Marketing Yourself 
4. Plan For The Unexpected 


1. FINDING THE BIG PICTURE 
To create a career map, you must be able to take a step back and
examine your position. More often than not, you may need to take many
steps before the big picture becomes visible. The whole purpose of a
career map is to create a path to your end goal. Being able to
envision the entire path is crucial.
 
As you step back to examine your situation, ask yourself these
questions:

A. How far into the future do you want to plan? One year? Five years?
   Ten years? 
B. What job characteristics are most important to you? Location?
   Salary? Room for Promotion? 
C. Is there flexiblity for unexpected detours? You never know when a
   spouse will find a job in another city or when a new boss will
   make your current job unbearable. 

2. DO SOME RESEARCH 
Planning should not be a stationary act. A vital part of effective 
career mapping is gathering information. After all, you cannot fully
prepare for a journey unless you have a detailed understanding of the
places you want to go. Determining the path you want to take for the
next few years requires a lot of legwork. You must identify the
specific actions you need to take on the road to success and
fulfillment. 

There are numerous methods to obtain all the information necessary
for creating a sound career map. Some of the most popular choices
include: 

A. Reading trade magazines and professional industry analysis. 
B. Interviewing industry experts. 
C. Finding a mentor that is already successful in the job you hope 
   aspire to be in one day. 

3. START MARKETING YOURSELF 
As you examine your path to success, you must determine how to get
yourself on that path. This means you need to be in contact with the
companies and/or industries you see in your future. As you already
know, landing the job you want is not an easy task. That is why
marketing is an essential part of career mapping. 

Above all else, a self-marketing strategy for career mapping should
address these three issues: 

A. Market Identification: Just like a business must decide on the
   customers to whom it will sell its product, you must decide on the
   companies and industries to which you will sell yourself. Be
   specific, having only a general idea will leave you unfocused. 
   Make a list of specifics so you can properly allocate
   your time and effort. 
B. Strength/Weakness Identification: When a business sells its
   product, it does not just to tell you the product's name.
   Advertisements emphasize the advantages of a product. You need
   emphasize your strengths and downplay your weaknesses as you market
   yourself. Have your closest friends and colleagues help you compile
   a list of your positive and negative characteristics. 
C. Mission Statement: It may seem trivial to actual develop a mission
   statement for yourself, but they perform a very valuable function.
   Creating a mission statement requires you to concisely explain your
   goals. In doing this, you remove frivolous details and better focus
   yourself.
 
4. PLAN FOR THE UNEXPECTED 
Often times, as a person develops their career map he or she realizes
that they are far off course. This perfectly normal, but it also
means that getting on the right road will require a change of
direction. 

What the future holds is always a mystery. Drastically changing your
life can only complicate things. A very important concern to have is
your financial stability. A career map is only valuable when it is
realistic, so it should address any of your financial concerns. As you
plan for the future, ensure you have a financial plan to tackle the
worst-case scenario. With each step along the way, you career map
should answer the question "Can I afford to continue on?" And the
answer must be yes.

CONCLUSION
Planning before you act allows you to make focused moves. Once you've
plotted your course, you must act without hesitation. Don't forget to
check your career map regularly to ensure you have not veered off
course. Make forecasts and continue to plan. When the job market is
rough; the people that do well are those that have a strong idea of
where they are trying to go. Remember, driving is a lot easier when
you keep your eyes on the road. Happy planning!

This article can be read directly online at:
http://www.worktree.com/newsletter/creating-a-personal-career-map.html
 

Sincerely,
Nathan Newberger,
Managing Editor
http://www.WorkTree.com
"Helping You Find More Jobs Faster" 

Nathan Newberger is the job and career expert at 
http://www.WorkTree.com . Nathan has over 10 years experience 
in staffing and human resources.   He has worked both as a 
recruiter and career counselor.   Mr. Newberger has  been the 
Managing Editor at http://www.WorkTree.com for the past 5 
years and his articles have helped thousands of job seekers.