Why You Should Have a Five Year Plan

Do you have a five year plan? If not, then you should think about making one. A five year plan can focus your attention on your goals, give you a more optimistic outlook and help you answer tough questions during job interviews.

Five years is the perfect period of time to use in your medium- to long-term planning. Five years is long enough to allow you to think about what direction you want your life to take, but not so long that you can't imagine yourself ever reaching the end of that period. When you make a five year plan, you will have plenty of time to work toward your goals, but not enough time to procrastinate.

Without a five year plan, it is easy to get caught up in the stresses and demands of daily life. Meeting short-term goals is important, but if you never look past the next deadline then you can easily lose your sense of meaning in life. A five year plan reduces the risk that you will look back in five years and wonder where the time went as your life will have evolved in the direction that you want for your future.

Although a five year plan can have a much broader focus than your career, work is one aspect of your life that can benefit greatly from this kind of planning. If you do not have a plan, then it is easy to stay in the same role for many years without taking the steps you need to progress in your career. When formulating a five year plan for your career, think about your ideal position and what you would need to do to end up there. You will need to take into account your current experience, qualifications and skills, as well as those demanded by your ideal job. Find out how you can gain the qualifications you need to apply for the job you want, and then work out how you can fit the necessary study into your schedule.

A five year plan is essential for college students and new graduates. As soon as you leave college and start looking for a job, you will find that one of the questions that you face most often in job interviews is "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Employers want to see that you have carefully considered this question and have a plan for your future. Having a five year plan when you leave college also reduces the risk that you will take the first job you can find and settle into a career that you never really wanted, simply because you haven't thought carefully enough about where you want to be.

Whether you are a new graduate or an experienced professional, a five year plan can help you to succeed in your personal and professional life. When making a five year plan, try to be as detailed as possible, so you know exactly what you need to do to achieve your goals.

Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net