Goals are an important part of life. They help keep us focused, motivated and on track for personal growth. And even though goals and plans sometimes change, they’re still worth setting, to help provide clarity on what you want from your career and break down the steps needed to get there.
Five years might not seem like a long time, but there’s a lot you can do and achieve in that time. If you’re not sure where to start, our career plan template can help get you going. Take a read through our guide to crafting a 5 year career plan, then use the template to write your own.
A five-year plan is a roadmap for reaching the personal and professional goals you would like to achieve within the next five years. A five-year plan for your personal life may include financial, health or educational milestones you’d like to reach, while a five-year career plan might include getting a qualification, upskilling, landing a job with a certain company or being promoted.
You should include small milestones in your career plan as well as bigger end goals. This helps break the process down into smaller steps, making your end-point feel all the more achievable.
There are many benefits to making a five-year plan for both your personal and professional life. Some of the main benefits of making a five-year plan include:
Ultimately, having five-year goals helps you get where you want to be. Knowing that your plan is on track, you may find yourself happier, more motivated and better equipped to overcome any challenges along the way.
If you’re wondering how to make a 5 year plan, this step-by-step guide outlines the process. Read through the steps, then download the template and make a career or personal plan to steer you through the next five years.
To make a five-year plan, start by identifying your long-term career or personal objectives. Where would you like to be in five years’ time? Is there a skill you’d like to have, like learning a language or an instrument? What sort of job could you see yourself doing? Ensure your goals are specific and meaningful to you.
The next step in setting your 5 year goals is to look at what skills, experience and qualifications you currently have and what additional abilities would benefit you in reaching your targets. Also look at what obstacles and challenges may hold you back. Identify gaps and areas for development relevant to your goals, and address how you can overcome these in your plan.
Breaking down your long-term goals into shorter, more manageable milestones will help you stay motivated and on track. Write down mini goals for one month, six months, 12 months and so on, assigning realistic milestones for each timeline.
Your five-year plan doesn’t have to be in depth, but keep in mind that the more detailed it is, the more set up for success you’ll be. Once you’ve outlined an overarching 5 year career plan, think about the resources, education or experience you’ll need to meet your goals. Consider action items like skill development, networking and getting mentorship into your plan.
One crucial step in attaining your 5 year goals is actioning the strategy outlined in your plan. Start working on short-term objectives, as these are the stepping stones to your end goal. Regularly monitor your progress and adapt your plan as necessary, checking off milestones as you reach them. It can help to create a visual tracker you can refer to daily, such as a calendar or milestone chart.
While it’s great to have the next five years mapped out, things don’t always go to plan. It’s wise to make your plan flexible in case your circumstances change. Periodically review your entire plan, taking into account your achievements, the challenges and your feelings about the journey so far. Adjust your goals and milestones as required, keeping flexibility in mind.
The following five-year plan examples help illustrate different types of career goals and how to break them down into smaller steps. Use these examples as a springboard for creating your own plan with personalised goals. The examples below demonstrate different levels of depth and goals in a variety of industries, to help you find the type of five-year plan that works for you.
In five years’ time, I see myself being a state or regional retail manager with my current employer, and having work-related opportunities to travel. Over the next five years, I have to:
As a final-year apprentice, my goal in five years is to become a trainer myself. To do so:
In five years’ time, I want to achieve a greater work-life balance as a full-time freelancer while I travel and live overseas.
Year one – build relevant skills and start freelancing:
Year two – build foundations and financial stability:
Year three – transition to PT:
Year four – establishing stability and lifestyle integration:
Year five – go freelance full time:
To get to your five-year goal, you will likely need to reach smaller professional personal objectives along the way. The more detailed your plan regarding these smaller steps, the more likely you are to stay on track. At the same time, try to make your plan flexible, in case unexpected changes to your circumstances arise.
Using a 5 year plan template is a great first step in planning your future. When using the template to create your five-year strategy, make the goals and short-term steps as specific as you like. Think about what skills and advantages you already have, what you still need to achieve and what setbacks you may face along the way.
The SEEK career plan template helps simplify the process. Fill in the gaps with what you’d like to achieve and then add the steps you need to take to get to your goal. Once you’ve created your five-year plan, review it regularly to track your progress and adjust the milestones as needed.
A five-year plan is a great way to help you stay focused and on track to meet your personal and professional goals. It’s an overarching plan for where you see yourself in the future that details the steps you need to take to get there. If you have an idea of which direction you’d like your career to take, a five-year plan is a great starting point.