PERSONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLANS

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1. Career Development Theories:

A process through which an individual selects goals of his career and direct his path to achieve
those goals is called career planning. Through this planning, an individual makes up his mind for
obtaining required skills and knowledge which will help him in obtaining his goal. To make a
career strategy in life is an essential task, through which an individual gives a right the direction
to his career [ CITATION Wen80 \l 1033 ]. Whatever the strategy an individual is following
should be structured, and one should know about every niche and corner for achieving the
required goal. A number of authors have given their own theories regarding career
development which explain “Success Mantra” of some brilliant personalities [ CITATION
Ste12 \l 1033 ]. I have explained two theories which are having an influence on my life.

1.1 Trait and Factor Theory:

The theory totally relies on the fact that career planning should be according to traits and
factors of an individual. These traits and factors should be matched with vocational need. If an
individual study Trait and factor theory, he would come to know about the requirement of
changes in his traits. There are two following theories which are explaining about traits and
factors.
1.1.1 Holland Theory: The theory is based on the fact that while choosing career, people
generally gave preference to jobs in which they can do like as others are doing. They explore the
environment where they can use their skills. Through personality and environment, determination of
behavior can be made. The theory focus on six facts: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising,
And Conventional

1.1.2 Theory of work adjustment: After 35 years of research work with vocational clients, the
theory of work adjustment has been originated. There are some basic steps which are being
followed by this theory like determination of requirement of job and characteristics of an
individual. There is requirement of matching of both features.

1. Major requirements of individuals: Basic needs to survive and basic belonging

requirements. When needs are accomplished then behavior changes.
2. Requirements of organization: when both the requirements are met, it creates job
match for person.

[ CITATION Mic89 \l 1033 ] Explained in his theory that for achieving success an individual
should choose the job which fulfill its basic requirements as well. This is must for successful
completion of job.

1.2 Developmental theories: Developmental theories include following two theories

1.2.1 Super Life-span Life space theory:

It gives us a criteria for understanding human aging. The main aim of the study is to consider
how regular changes are occurring time to time under various conditions. For example, this
practice can be found in unchangeable conditions of deficits and losses.

1.2.2 Gottfredson theory:

The theory shares a rational for our career directions in her theory of circumscription and
compromise. In her theory, Gottfredson seeks to answer “Where do interests, abilities, and
other determinants of vocational choice come from?”  Essentially, why do we choose to do what
we do? The proposed answer lies in first understanding how we develop our self-concept.  We
then consider how we eliminate occupational alternatives that conflict with this self-concept
through a process called circumscription. Finally, we look at the remaining options
and compromise based on the certain criteria

1.3 Advantages & Disadvantages of theories:

Advantages & Disadvantages of Trait and factor theory:

Trait and factor theory is having advantages like these theories make the individuals able to
explore the factors which are important for their vocation. They come to know about which
skills are required and what they are having to meet the requirement of a vocation.

But the theory is also possessing some disadvantages like all the traits are not being possessed
by all the leaders. The traits are measurable but not in magnitude. Moreover there is no
agreement about desirable traits.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Developmental theory:

The theory has an advantage because it shows that people change and develop as the time
passes. This thing make us able to understand what should we expect from people, and what
thing make us better. This theory provide us a scientific approach because we can decide about
what kind of education is required for proper development of children.

The main disadvantage of the theory is that it is too rigid and too deterministic in nature. Most
of the research on this theory is based on children, it is not based on young one’s experience.

1.4 Why I choose this theory?

I have chosen trait and factor theory for my career plan, as the theory explains about what
factors and traits we should adopt to be successful in our goals. The theory make me able to
understand what traits and factor I should have to be successful in life. I have alternate my
ways after adopting this theory.

1.5 The theory which best explains me

Trait and factor theory includes Holland theory, which best explained me because the theory
gives an overall view of a person’s life. People generally gave preference to jobs in which they
can do like as others are doing. They explore the environment where they can use their skills. Through
personality and environment, determination of behavior can be made.

1.6 Personal examples:

I have personally observed that the trait and factor theory has made me able in my life to explore the
things which I required to do for progress in life.

Development theory includes life space theory which has personal influence on my life. The theory gave
me a view that there should be a link between personal choice of skills and performance in occupations.
That is why I have chosen this theory.

2. Career Intervention:

A process through which one is helped in planning for the career as career counseling, career
education, guidance related to career etc.

These activities motivate an individual in taking a right decision regarding his career. Among all
career intervention techniques, the most famous one is counseling related to career through
conferences and workshops [ CITATION Nor06 \l 1033 ]. Coaching and mentoring are two
intervention techniques which generally assist a person in deciding about his career because
both these techniques are having some similarities. Both make a person to achieve the full
credible. Both make an individual able to learn more and more with the practice of policies
again and again.

Mentoring is the career intervention technique which will help me in my decision regarding
career because when we mentor someone, we come to know about the depth of the topic and
try to explore something new. Thus by mentoring I would be able to learn more and more
about my mistakes.

In Exploratory, Establishment and maintenance stage, mentoring would help, as first an

individual tries to explore new relationships as a mentor with mentee after that when a
mentor-mentee relationship is established, that relationship develops and grows up in growth
and maintenance stage[ CITATION Wen00 \l 1033 ].

2.1 Which is best Intervention in different stages?

The best intervention for Exploration stage is coaching, through it an individual can explore
more and more new innovations which can help him in learn new skills as well as to innovate
new skills. For Establishment stage, mentoring is the best intervention because through
mentoring, an individual learns a lot through mentoring others. The best intervention is
Maintenance stage as it assists an individual to maintain skills and mindset for achievement of
personal success. Such methods helps in motivating an individual for career development which
further helps in exploration of career. According to me, this intervention helps in maintaining
the skills according to requirement of vocation.

2.2 Career intervention of my choice

According to me, a better mentor-mentee relationship leads to better performance of the

desired task because a mentor while training mentee regarding skills, first develops a good
relationship with him and then gradually becomes task-oriented which automatically leads to
spontaneity of the work. Thus these career intervention techniques, especially mentoring
assists to set a better desired goal of an individual.

3. Career Development Strategies:

Etisalat, A leading telecommunication operator company of UAE:

This is a leading telecommunication company of UAE, has it's headquartered at Abu Dhabi, UAE,
serving 11.6 million customers. The company is having its own strategic development policies
for career development of employees.
3.1Strategies adopted by company for career intervention:

• The company is making its strategy related to a Human resource by having in

view the development and formation of mission, vision, and strategy of the
business.
• The company also ensure that there should be proper implementation of plans
so that business targets can be achieved.
• The company also motivate the employees time to time by providing those
bonuses and appraisal.
• It recommends a proper organizational structure to Human resource department
so that all the resources can be properly utilized and communication should be
proper. [ CITATION Thu80 \l 1033 ]
• There is proper arrangement of meetings, campaigns and conferences time to
time to promote the plans for achievement of the desired target.
• The company manages the recruitment strategy as well. There is proper
structured interviewing of candidates, psychometric tests before hiring them.
• The company ensures human resource department to make a timely budget for
all the plans so that no budgetary issues should be there.
• It ensures personal development plans for all the employees for their personal
growth.
• Training and development programs are organized time to time for growth of
employees.
 • Explore new methods for learning new techniques which will augment the
training process for the purpose to successfully train and develop personnel and
improve organizational effectiveness.

3.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of career development policies followed by Etisalat

Company:

 The main advantages of the policies are related to personal career development of
employees.
 The company focusses on overall development of employees.
 Company provide time to time training and workshop for company’s employee’s
progress.

On the other hand, there are developmental theories include 'stages of development.' This is a
negative part being shown by these stages have previously been shown to be too rigid.

To be too rigid and too deterministic is a meticulous negative part. Sometimes our expectation
of working in local company and getting knowledge and experience proves wrong.
4. Career Planning practices in Local and Global Context

Career planning practices in Google (Global Context)

In global context, Google is following a Competitive compensation strategy. This strategy leads
to high quality employees, which will lead to personal and professional development of the
company. There is a combination of competitive compensation strategy and programs for
career development. This combination assists the company for successful development of
human resources of the company.

Before hiring the employees, company need to have a match of individual and organizational
needs. The company also focus on performance and appraisals time to time to motivate the
employees. It’s the responsibility of Human resource manager to make sure for proper fit
among employees and organization. Thus under career planning practices of the company,
main considered facts are:

 Matching of Individual-Organization before hiring employees

 Identification of Career Opportunities and Requirements
 Assessment of potential of employee
 Instituting Career Development Initiative

Theory is best Description:

This is the best described practice because it show how people change and develop over time
as they mature. This allows us to know what to expect from people of different ages and so we
will be better able to identify problems in development.

Examples: Google’s career planning practices have succeeded with regard to career
development initiatives because it commendably attracts highly qualified smart and excellent
employees. Thus Google has become one of the best place to work according to people’s
perception.

4.1 Career planning practices in local context:

In local Context, In Etisalat, UAE’s leading company, people are the most important asset of the
company. That is why so many personal development programs are generally organized time to
time by company. The company’s main objective is to produce corporate leaders for next
coming generation so that there can be highly qualified and motivated leaders in the company
to meet with future challenges. National training programs are being conducted to attract the
fresh graduates towards the company. These programs are organized for 15 months. Followings
are the major success factors of the company:

 Arrangements for visits in universities time to time to attract the fresh youth.
 Recruitment from university campus of UAE.
 Conducting Recruitment fair, which is open for participation by all residents of UAE.
 The company’s association with chief companies of country.

The government of UAE has started the initiative for some public and private sector for the
provision of better opportunities of employment. For this purpose, a policy based on skill
oriented strategy was implemented by the government in May 2009 [ CITATION Ver08 \l
1033 ]. The main purpose of implementing this policy was to maintain an equilibrium in labor
market by focusing on capabilities of employees. The government actually wants to increase
working of manpower ten times more by 2021. Thus they are conducting training and
education programs, workshops and seminars to make the manpower aware about their
potentials. Through workshops and seminars, Employees are generally being trained by the
company so that those employees can help in overall development of the company.

The best description of company

This is the best described practice because it show how people change and develop over time
as they mature. This allows us to know what to expect from people of different ages and so we
will be better able to identify problems in development.

Example: I feel to work in a company like, Etsalat, will be a good opportunity for me because
the company is providing time to time workshops and seminars, it is the policy of the company
to provide more and more skills to its employees. The main purpose of implementing this policy
was to maintain an equilibrium in labor market by focusing on capabilities of employees

5. Self-Analyses:
Although everyone in his life has to pass through so many career choices, yet these choices play
a very important role in everyone’s life. The main four stages through which everyone passes
are Establishment stage, Advancement stage, Mantainence stage, withdrawal
stage.Performance and coaching will be the main part which I will focus during first two stages
because these are the two stages which make an individual learn about how productivity can be
increased and in the third stage, all the deficiencies can overcome. In all the stages I will use my
problem-solving approach to play the role I am playing. At the third stage of maintenance, I
shall try to overcome my deficiencies. I shall use my problem-solving capacity to play better
roles at the workplace. After analyses of my career decision, I have identified some factors.

Knowledge Skills Ability

I have 1. Degrees and certificate 1. Good control over 1. Strong

courses in Management my leadership
2. Knowledge regarding all aggressiveness qualities
career interventions and can lead any 2. To maintain
3. Done internship with a type of positivity
management branch community
during graduation, thus 2. Controlling power
having knowledge of over others
management process

I don’t 1. Certification in career 1. Motivational 1. Ability to form

have oriented courses, thus I skills. I would a group and
will gain some learn these skills motivate
knowledge regarding gradually by others is one
career intervention mentoring skills of ability
through these courses 2. Control over required.
2. Knowledge regarding myself is one of 2. Ability to
budgetary management the negative diverse the
is an important thing aspect in me situation
for any kind of career which I will
development improve through
technique, thus I will mentoring
focus on this matter. technique.

I will 1. Regarding career 1. Influencing power 1. My ability of

Improv by mentoring group
 e intervention techniques technique. formation.
2. Knowledge regarding 2. How to control 2. My ability for
budgetary management our self in changing the
by joining some courses adverse situation situation
or workshops related to immediately
it

5.2 According to me, Mentoring is the career intervention which will impact my career
planning. Because throughout mentoring others I will come to know about the practicality of
the impulsive subject. Mentoring is the only activity which I feel I need to improve. It also
manages the relationship to be sure that client is satisfied with the services and that programs
are manageable.

5.3 Advantages and disadvantages of Mentoring as Career Intervention

Benefits for the mentee: 1) Advancement of career 2) Good compensation 3) Identification of

profession

Benefits for the mentor: 1) Enhancement of career 2) “Leading the knowledge to a new
generation” 3) Learning new skills, new growths, important features of next generation

Drawbacks for the mentee: 1) Mentee become over dependent on the mentor 2) very small
view of management from the mentor 3) Negative aura from mentor who nosedives

Disadvantages for the mentor: 1) Dependence of Mentee on mentor 2) Energy and time
commitment to mentee

6. Identification of personal goals and career paths:

In deciding about my career plan, I have considered trait and factor theory. I have recognized all
the traits and factors which I am having already and what are required according to vocational
needs. Short term goals of my career plan are as follows:
Goals of Short Term:

To gain perfection in short-term through learning experience is required if one wants to get the
things achieved in long run. After having these points in view, I have planned for short term in
the following way:

• To join a newly established industry, for the purpose of gaining knowledge and skills.

• To obtain experience to enter big industry later on.

• For the purpose of learning authority and responsibility.

• To learn new skills and knowledge.

Goals of Long-Term:

My long-term targeted goal is to be a top-level manager in Multinational Corporation. After the

analyses of traits and factors, I have come to know about which traits are required to meet that
goal and which traits I am having. I will keep considering all these points while achieving the
long-term goal.

• To be very helpful towards the employer.

• To do innovative research for company

• Always want to be best first status.

Career Paths:

Career paths are what kind of career one can choose for himself according to his capability.
According to my career plan, the following career paths I can choose:

• To be an academician after obtaining masters, because of my appropriate teaching skills and

controlling power.

• To be a coordinator in a company as I am having coordination skills.

Career Roadmap:

Within Next 1-2 years: To enter into a new industrial company to enhance the skills and
knowledge.

Within 3-5 years: To be a top level manager in a multinational company.

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