“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

Yeah, I hate that question, too. According to  this article that I read in the Harvard Business Review on career development, it’s something you should try to figure out the answer to before you prep for your next interview. Dorie Clark, the author, proposes four methods to start making a name for yourself in your organization or field.

Interestingly, one of the four methods she proposes is to sit down and write the resume you’ll have in five years, including the full details (responsibilities) of your dream job. Then fill in the information for the years in between, while thinking about the skills you’ll need to develop. Sound familiar? It’s pretty similar to how I chose the right job offer for me.

The moral of the story is this: Setting aside the time necessary to sit down and really think through what you want to accomplish professionally is key; even when you’re settled in your job. Don’t wait until you’re on the job hunt again. Any time is a good time to draw up a five-year professional plan.

Once you’ve set a five-year goal, get to work!

When you’ve got a lot going on, it’s easy to ignore making your five year plan. Itt is just as easy to avoid getting started on the dirty work, especially if that work is outside the scope of your current position. So, while you’re at it, I recommend planning your professional growth for the year. This article, also by Dorie Clark, on planning out a year’s worth of professional development lays out three areas to focus on. They are:

1. Learning – plan to fill one or two of the gaps in your skill set.
2. Connecting – find the folks with influence in your organization. (Start inside.. once you’re well – established internally, feel free to reach out.)
3. Creating – share what you know! Think: speeches, podcasts, a blog post for the company blog, etc.

My list?

1. Learning: Adobe InDesign, basic design principles, possibly logo design
2. Connecting: looking for more ways to network within my division by asking for meetings with peers from other offices, and asking them to partner on projects
3. Creating: this blog and at least one conference presentation

What does your list look like?