Feeling stuck in your career? We’ve been there. Whether you never really knew what you wanted, or later realized your dream job wasn’t quite the dream you’d imagined, or maybe life just took you in a new direction, making a change can feel overwhelming.

Before you spend hours filling out job applications or years getting more education or training, we’re sharing our method to help you figure out what your next career move should be.

Download our comprehensive guide to get started with self-discovery to create a fulfilling career path. We created this free guide to help you research and explore career options and make a plan that works for you. Answer coaching questions that will guide you as you consider different career choices.

Understanding Career Transitions

For Ama La Vida members, career transitions can be driven by things like the desire for better work-life balance or higher income, job dissatisfaction, or going after their dream job.

While these members want to find a job that aligns with their interests, it's normal for them to feel a mix of emotions from excitement to worry that they wasted time getting to where they are now. Some even worry that the next job won’t be any better than the last.

It's true, making a job transition can be scary, but with a proven strategy and approach while you're exploring careers, you can move forward with (more) confidence.

The first step in this process is making a career plan. This part is all about self-reflecting to understand what you truly want for your career and then figuring out the steps needed to achieve it.

Let's get into it!

Using Career Plan Worksheets: Your Road to Rediscovery

Think of a career worksheet as your personal roadmap. It's a tool that helps you figure out your work goals and how to reach them. Unlike those quizzes that tell you what job you should have based on your skills and personality, a career plan is all about creating a step-by-step strategy to achieve your specific career dreams.

The main parts of a great career plan include:

• Self-reflection (looking inward to understand yourself better)
• Goal setting (deciding what you want to achieve)
• Research (learning about different jobs)
• Skill development (gaining new abilities)
• Long-term career goal setting (defining success for yourself)

Setting goals helps you know exactly what you're aiming for, which keeps you motivated. Focusing on skill development means you're always learning what you need to succeed. And when you have a big, long-term goal, you can break it down into smaller tasks that are easier to tackle. Each part of the worksheet helps create a solid plan, leading you to a career that's both successful and fulfilling.

Unlocking Your Potential with Career Worksheets

Career plan worksheets are like keys that unlock your potential. They help you reflect on your values (what's important to you), interests (what you love doing), and skills (what you're good at). When you understand these things about yourself it's much easier to decide between different careers.

By doing research, networking (talking to people in different fields), and having informational interviews (chatting with people about their jobs), you learn a lot about different industries and roles. Taking the time to do this research ensures your future career goals match what is important to you personally and your skills.

Not only does career planning help you clarify what jobs interest you, but it also gets you ready for job applications by highlighting your relevant qualifications and experiences.

Chances are, you didn't have a plan when you found your current job. Without a worksheet, your next job search might be all over the place. You could end up applying to jobs that don't really suit you, feeling lost, and not reaching your full potential. A Harvard Business Review article shared that very few people think about their career over the next five years.

This worksheet will help you set long-term career goals—these are the big objectives you want to achieve in your work life. They guide your career path and help you make better short-term decisions. By exploring and planning systematically, career worksheets pave the way to a fulfilling and successful job journey.

Overcoming Obstacles and Staying Motivated

Balancing career exploration with your current responsibilities can be tricky. It takes good time management and prioritization. To make it work, set aside specific time each week to explore jobs and learn new skills.

Sometimes, you might feel scared or doubtful about the process. To overcome these feelings, break your goals into smaller, more manageable tasks. Then, celebrate each small win as you complete them.

Having support is also important to stay focused, especially on the tough tasks. Ask mentors, colleagues, and friends for advice and encouragement. Don't be afraid to seek help or use resources like career coaches and online courses to fill in what you don't know.

Stay interested in your journey by reminding yourself of your long-term goals. You can make a vision board or post reminders for yourself of why this transition is important to you.

Don't forget, by planning methodically and using support, you can achieve your career dreams.

Making the Most of Career Plan Worksheets

Take time for self-reflection

To get the most out of these career plan worksheets, start with honest self-reflection. Really dig into your skills, interests, and values to create a clear career plan.

Work your way through the questions in each section of the PDF worksheet guide to help you uncover what's most important to you.

Ask for feedback

Share your completed worksheets with mentors or colleagues for feedback. Their insights will help you spot your natural talents.

Make it a research project

Do thorough career research to understand job requirements and industry trends. This includes having informational interviews to learn about daily life in different roles. Yes, it's work, but this can also be fun! You're learning about potential careers that match your own interests. Make sure to take note of what sounds interesting to you!

Putting Your Plan into Action

Once you've built a career plan, it's time to put it into action. Here are few ways to get started.

Prepare for your job search

Keep a log of your accomplishments and add to it often. You can use these to update your resume to match your goals and new skills, and reference it when you prepare for a job interview.

One blog post suggests doing a weekly self-reflection to make this a habit. Finally, prep for job interviews by reviewing your worksheets and aligning your answers with your career goals.

Develop your skills

Whether or not you decide to go back to school, it's important to make time for upskilling and continuing education.

Stay flexible

One of the best parts of a career plan is the clarity it gives you. But for some people, this can feel like they're limiting themselves or closing themselves off to other opportunities. Please don't worry—you can still adapt your path if you discover a new interest.

This exercise isn't about limiting your choices, it's about knowing your own needs and setting yourself up for career paths that suit you.

Success Stories and Inspiration

At first, this type of planning might seem like a lot of work. But using these worksheets boosts your chances of having a career you truly love. Many of our members have worked through this process and successfully moved into new roles.

For example, one of my young professional clients felt unfulfilled in her stable corporate job. She decided to explore other occupations using a career plan worksheet.

She started by reflecting on her interests and skills, realizing her passion for digital marketing. The worksheet showed her the gap between her current qualifications and what she needed for her desired field. Through targeted training and online courses, she developed the necessary skills.

She used the worksheet to track progress and set achievable goals. She also networked with industry professionals who shared new ideas, further boosting her determination. In the end, she landed a marketing position that matched her passions.

Her plan not only helped her transition successfully but also provided a structured approach that kept her motivated and focused. Her story shows how a well-crafted career plan can turn a vague interest into a fulfilling, passion-driven career.

Make Your Career Plan

Ready to build your career success? Start today with our ALV Career Method Guide. Print out our free worksheets and use the resources to identify your strengths and interests. Write down your goals, prepare your next steps, and create a roadmap to your dream job. By answering key questions and understanding your aspirations, you'll be well-equipped to navigate your career journey with confidence and clarity.

Download your free ALV Career Method Guide

Additional Resources