Career planning is essential at any stage of your professional life, especially if you feel unfulfilled in your current role. In the same way a health check-up is important for your continued well-being, a career check-up ensures you are still following your goals (and dreams).

What is a Career Check-Up?

A career check-up is a regular review of your professional goals, performance, satisfaction, and growth. It helps you identify skills gaps, reevaluate long-term goals, and plan for the future. It’s an important part of career planning and should be undertaken annually, after significant life changes (such as starting a family or completing education), and when feeling stuck or unfulfilled in your current career.

Signs You Need a Career Check-Up

Do you feel?

• Unmotivated, disengaged or bored at work
• Your values no longer match your current role
• Unsure of your future career path
• You’ve stopped learning or growing professionally
• Stressed or burnt out
• Your industry is changing, requiring new skills
• Different after experiencing a major life change
• Curious about new opportunities

 

If so, there’s a strong possibility you’re overdue for a career check-up. Don’t wait any longer! Take our six-step career check-up to rediscover your passion. Alternatively, consider retraining or acquiring new professional development skills to pursue a different career—one that’s both challenging (in just the right amount) but won’t lead to burnout.

6 Step Career Check-Up

Are you in need of a thorough career check-up? If so, the process isn’t as complicated (or painful) as it sounds. Start by reflecting on your current situation. It’s helpful to review your previous career goals, assess your current skills, evaluate your network and potential opportunities, and finally, create a plan for moving forward!

1. Reflect on Your Current Situation

Are you happy at work? Okay, so realistically, no one is happy all the time, but if you have more bad days than good, your job satisfaction could be a problem. There could be many reasons why you’re unhappy at work, from a work-life imbalance to not using the skills you truly enjoy or a mismatch between the role and your personal values. When you make time for honest reflection and identify what needs to change, you set yourself on a path to a more meaningful career.

2. Review Your Career Goals

Once you’ve reflected on where you are currently, it’s time to think about where you’re headed. Take a look over your short-term and long-term career planning goals to see if they still reflect your current interests and circumstances. Are those goals still relevant and inspiring, or do they need adjusting based on changes in your personal or professional life? When you regularly review your career planning goals, it ensures you stay on a path that feels both purposeful and attainable.

3. Assess Your Skills and Professional Development

Next, take a close look at your current skill set and how it supports your career ambitions. Are there any new skills you’ve gained recently? If so, ensure you have included them on your CV or resume and LinkedIn profile. Are there any areas that you need further professional development or upskilling? It’s also important to stay informed about the latest industry trends. Think about emerging tools, technologies, or practices you need to learn to stay competitive? When you understand your strengths and areas for growth, you will stay responsive to a job market that’s often fast and unpredictable.

4. Evaluate Your Network and Opportunities

Your professional network can be a powerful way to make a career transition, whether a step up or a completely new field. Who are your mentors and supporters? Are they actively helping you grow? Are you connected to people in your desired field or industry, and how might you strengthen those relationships? If you need help building and maintaining strong networks and partnerships, consider our Develop & Maintain Networks and Collaborative Partnerships, short online course. Also, look for hidden opportunities within your current workplace. Sometimes, the next big step is closer than you think. A simple conversation or collaboration might be all you need to step outside your comfort zone and make a brave new career move.

5. Check Your Personal Brand

Your personal brand tells your unique story. It influences how you’re perceived, remembered and valued professionally. It’s often the first impression you make, so ensure your resume or CV is up-to-date and accurately reflects your most relevant experiences and accomplishments. Don’t forget to review your LinkedIn profile to ensure it reflects your current goals and promotes your unique value. Highlight achievements, update your summary, and consider how your online presence supports the direction you want your career to take. Consider professional development training, like our Personal Brand Management course if you need skills to build a personal brand.

6. Make an Action Plan

The final step, now that you have a better understanding of where you’re at now and where you want to go, is to create a professional development plan of action. Start by setting new SMART goals—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-sensitive—to give your career direction and momentum. Identify the next practical steps you need to take, whether enrolling in a course, expanding your professional network, or updating your LinkedIn profile. If you need a bit of extra support and accountability (who doesn’t?), consider finding a mentor or career coach who can make sure your career check-up is thorough, and the remedy (your action plan) is comprehensive and successful!

 

Scheduling regular career check-ups is a crucial part of career planning. It’s about staying proactive about your professional development and an opportunity to pivot in your career when you no longer feel fulfilled. So, whether you’re feeling stuck or want to stay on track in your current role, it’s never too late to course-correct, set new goals, and dream bigger. Talk to one of our friendly Course Consultants if you need professional development. Simply contact one of our Course Consultants today at 1300 76 2221 or via Live Chat.