Steps to a Successful Career

Four Steps for a Career Path

As November settles in, the air feels cooler, the days grow shorter, and gratitude begins to fill the season. This natural shift invites us to pause and reflect on another kind of transformation, the evolving journey of postsecondary and higher education learners who continue to adapt, grow, and redefine what success looks like in a changing world.

As I shared in September's newsletter, success begins with four intentional steps. Starting a career in today’s economy requires more than a diploma or a degree. Every industry now expects a combination of academic knowledge, technical expertise, life skills, and employability skills. The measure of success is no longer just what you know, but how you apply that knowledge, how you adapt, and how well you align your strengths with opportunity. Through my work with learners and professionals across the nation, I have observed that the most competitive individuals focus on four deliberate steps (in this order!): self-awareness, career exploration, career planning, and then a clear skills-based education plan.

Self Awareness

Self-awareness, the cornerstone of career navigation and success, precedes considerations of job titles, salaries, or degrees. It's the key that unlocks a world of possibilities. Individuals must have a clear understanding of their strengths and motivations. I often ask students and professionals to reflect on two fundamental questions. 

What do I enjoy doing?

What am I good at doing? 

The answers often point in different directions. A valid career assessment can reveal personality strengths, aptitude, skills, and interests that individuals might overlook. More than one assessment is needed to give learners different perspectives! 

This is not just about middle and high school. Organizations and higher education leaders also benefit when they prioritize self-awareness for their learners and employees. When a student or an employee gains insight into what drives them, they approach learning and work with focus and resilience. Without this first step, they risk pursuing a path that may look attractive but ultimately leads to frustration and low engagement.

Career Exploration

Exploration is the key that unlocks a world of possibilities. There are over 900 careers in 14 industry clusters. Students rarely have exposure to the full range of options before they graduate. Students should conduct research, speak with professionals already working in the field, and all learners should experience work-based learning (including internships, job shadowing, youth apprenticeships, and/or mentorship opportunities).

Structured exploration programs serve everyone. Students who engage in exploration enter higher education with clearer goals. Employers who support exploration find better matches between talent and roles. Exploration reduces misalignment and increases motivation. 

Career Planning

Once a person understands their strengths and all the available options, the next step involves planning for the first step. Career planning does not require a perfect or permanent decision. Instead, it involves setting an initial direction that aligns natural abilities with the realities of the labor market. This planning stage requires careful attention to projected wages and a realistic evaluation of where individual skills can be developed to excel.

For example, the average income for management roles may appear higher than for skilled technical roles, but the highest-performing technical professionals often out-earn low-performing managers. Success depends on ability, preparation, and fit, not simply on a credential. I encourage individuals to create a ten-year plan with specific milestones, while also preparing both a Plan A and a Plan B. Obstacles will appear; they always do. Planning enables a person to pivot and adjust quickly, rather than stopping progress.

Skills-Based Education Plan

The fourth step is to create a plan that is more than an education plan.  It is a roadmap to success based on skills and competencies. It connects career goals to tangible preparation. Education no longer exists as a single track. It includes traditional degrees, industry certifications, dual enrollment opportunities, military experience, entrepreneurship, and applied learning experiences. The most successful individuals understand that academic learning, technical proficiency, and employability skills work together.

Employers consistently emphasize the value of skills over diplomas. They are more interested in whether a person can meet deadlines, collaborate effectively, solve complex problems, and communicate clearly and effectively. When skills-based education plans (developed by Get Focused, Stay Focused) combine academic rigor with practical application, graduates leave with both the knowledge and the skills to add value from day one.

Short vs Long-Term Employment

For companies and institutions, this approach raises an important consideration. Are you developing talent only for an immediate opening, or are you cultivating individuals who can grow and adapt within your organization? Long-term talent development is crucial to an organization's growth and adaptability. Short-term hiring may solve an urgent need to fill an open position. However, long-term strength comes from recognizing that talent is a combination of self-awareness, a clear plan, and the habits of exploration and learning.

As the nature of work evolves, I believe that students, educators, and employers must collaborate to establish this foundation. When we prioritize these four steps, a workforce is created that is more innovative, anti-fragile, and aligned with the demands of the modern economy. This is important now more than ever.

Catapult’s Instructional Excellence Program

As an educator, I know the critical importance of continuous professional development. If you are seeking growth at the individual, team, or organizational level, Catapult Masterclass provides an unparalleled opportunity to transform teaching practice and amplify classroom impact.

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