How to plan your next career move

Figure out what you want   

This might seem like an obvious first step to some, but you will be surprised how many coaching clients I see that have no idea what path they want their career to take. 

When you started your career, you may have had an idea of what you wanted your career to look like. However, this may have changed over the years. Work can take up so much of your time and headspace that many professionals don't revisit their career plan or do the work to figure out if they are still on the right path. 

When you don't know what you want to do, you often end up doing something because you are good at it, because it puts food on the table, or because it's something you have always done.

Figure out what you really want to do and then find a way to do that. How would your life be different if you were doing the work you always wanted to do instead of work you have to do?

Set clear boundaries to give yourself space to plan 

There is no perfect time to set boundaries. When I worked with graduates, they would always hesitate to set boundaries because they were new to the world of work. They would say that they wanted to learn or that they were afraid they would miss out on opportunities to learn if they set boundaries. I could understand this, but setting and managing boundaries is a skill, and something we should learn early on in our careers. When we become 'yes people' early in our careers, we tend to experience more burnout and stress, it becomes our way of working and the way others expect us to work. 

Clear boundaries will help you be more productive. You will submit great work and get invited to work on exciting projects, because you are not drowning in “busy” work. Another way to look at boundaries is the opportunity it gives you to work on your career. 

Clients often tell me they don't have time to work on their own things because work is busy. And it will always be that way until you make the change. Your employer isn't going to tell you to close your computer at five or to leave your laptop at the office when you take time off. You have to set these boundaries yourself.

Take a long term view

Nothing is going to happen overnight, so when it comes to your career, it's essential to think long-term. 

Look at what skills you will need in the future and focus on developing enduring skills that will be relevant in years to come. For example, instead of taking a course that might only benefit the work that you do now, consider taking courses that help you develop skills in leadership, collaboration, critical thinking or emotional intelligence that could assist you in roles you want to do in the future.

You can find great opportunities to network at Africa Tech Week 

Selina Fisher is the founder of SelinaNewman Coaching, a coaching company that focuses on helping professionals navigate career change and transition. She is an ICF-accredited Career Coach based in Cape Town, South Africa. Her mission is to empower and equip professionals and leaders with the mindset and tools to create a career that fulfils and rewards them.