Mid-Year Career Plan Checkup

We’ve just crossed over the midpoint of 2019. Now is the time for summer vacation, reading books on the beach, and giving your career plan a checkup? Indeed, it is. At the beginning of the year you set career goals and benchmarks and used these to create a map for your career-year. Six months later it is the perfect time to check your progress and make necessary adjustments to ensure you have a banner year.

Just as in the planning process I recommend keeping the mid-year checkup simple. This lean and mean three-step process will keep you on the right track for end-of-year success.

How are your results aligning with your goals?

Review the goals you set in January and your results as of the end of Q2. At your current pace of improvement will you meet or exceed all of your goals by the end of the year?

Are the action plans in your career map effective at helping you achieve your goals?

For all goals that look like they may fall short of your plan, take a critical look at the associated action plans. Often what seems to be a solid plan can yield unintended consequences or be poorly aligned with a goal. Make any necessary changes to bolster ineffective plans.

What additional gaps and opportunities did you uncover during the first half of the year?

The first two steps are pretty obvious, but important. Step three is the secret sauce that can help you transform good results into extraordinary results. In January you identified opportunities (job opportunities, volunteer work, educational ops, etc.) that align with where you are, and where you would like to be. Additionally, you identified gaps (experience, educational, weaknesses, etc.) that you need to close in order to achieve your goals.

Through your experience it is likely that you did a great job identifying opportunities and gaps and addressing each with an action plan. Regardless of how much experience you have, unforeseen events will happen. During the past six months were any additional opportunities or gaps exposed? If so, assess how these fit into your year-end goals and address each with a new action plan.

Have a wonderful summer vacation, enjoy the books and beaches, and don’t forget to give your career plan a little tune up.

Danielle Foppe is a Recruitment Manager at Business Centric Technology. If you are interested in learning more about how to get the best IT talent in the Dallas metroplex, contact Danielle specializes in recruiting IT talent in Dallas, Ft. Worth and North Texas. If you are looking for a rewarding career contact us today.