The 6 Stages of Modern Career Development By Michelle L. Casto, M.Ed. Whole Life Coach, Speaker, and Author Career experts say that people will change careers (not jobs) 5-7 times in a lifetime. This being true, career management is an important life skill to develop and cultivate. There are six stages of modern career development: Assessment, Investigation, Preparation, Commitment, Retention, and Transition. Learning characteristics of each stage will empower you to navigate through each stage easily and with more confidence.
In Assessment Stage, you are getting ready for your life’s work. This stage is characterized by unawareness, in that you are not sure what your values, strengths, and weaknesses are. You start to feel like you want to know more about yourself and make a conscious effort to get in touch with who you really are. Key characteristics: §Taking assessment instruments §Working with a career counselor or career coach
In Investigation Stage, you are researching what work exists in world. This stage is characterized by feelings of confusion, in that you are not sure what career options exist for you. You may feel overwhelmed with all of different jobs and opportunities that exist as you begin process of researching modern world of work. But if you approach this stage with a positive frame of mind, you will find that you will learn about many possibilities you may have never considered. Key characteristics: §Researching world of work §Conducting informational interviews with people in your chosen field
In Preparation Stage, you are still getting ready to do your life’s work. This stage is characterized by feelings of excitement, as you think of how wonderful it will be to perform meaningful work. However, there is still much work to be done, and in order to be successful, you have to be prepared. Key characteristics: §Gaining knowledge and experience §Setting goals and adopting a success-oriented mind-set