The Six Stages of Modern Career Development

The 6 Stages of Modern Career Development
Adapted from the book, Get Your Career on the Fast Track: A Modern Navigational Guide for Managers
by Michelle L. Casto, Ph.D.

By now you may have heard that people will change careers (not just jobs) 5-7 times in a lifetime. This being true, career management is an important life skill to develop and cultivate. According to Get Your Career on the Fast Track, there are six stages of modern career development: Assessment, Investigation, Preparation, Commitment, Retention, and Transition.

To navigate the many changes and challenges of the career super highway, it is essential that you become aware of what occurs in each stage as well as what part emotions play. As you read through this overview, take note of where you are and what you need to do in that stage.

In the 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 Tasks:
• Taking assessment instruments
• Working with a career counselor or career coach

In the Investigation Stage, you are researching what work exists in the 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 the different jobs and opportunities that exist as you begin the process of researching the 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 Tasks:
• Researching the world of work
• Conducting informational interviews with people in your chosen field

In the 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 Tasks:
• Gaining knowledge and experience
• Setting goals and adopting a success-oriented mind-set

In the Commitment Stage, you feel confident, in that you have figured out what you are meant to do. Sometimes people have known all along what they were meant to do, but were not able to commit to the process of making it happen, for whatever reason. At this stage, more than ever, you must focus your energy and keep your eye on the target.
Key Tasks:
• Conducting a job search
• Negotiating and accepting a job offer

In the Retention Stage, you feel comfortable in your career field, as you now have figured out how things work in your industry. You may want to remain committed to your career by continually updating your skill set and staying current with industry standards.
Key Tasks:
• Providing first-class customer service skills
• Building a professional network

The Transition Stage is characterized by feelings of discomfort, in that you are unsure of what you will be doing next (and/or if you will be happy). In this stage, you learn to make conscious changes in your career direction.
Key Tasks:
• Making career changes
• Developing resiliency

When making a career decision, most people progress through each stage to the next. But it is common for people to go back and forth between stages as they are gathering more information about themselves, the world of work, and as they begin aligning their career decision with their age, developmental stage, and life goals. It is safe to say that no matter what career stage you find yourself in now, you can be sure that you will enter and re-enter through these six stages many times though out your lifetime.

Copyright 2000-2008, Michelle L. Casto

Michelle L. Casto, Ph.D. is known as the Soul Coach, because she helps people get in touch with the work that ignites their inner fire, and empowers them to shine their bright light in the world. As an inspirational speaker and author, she teaches people how to gain a higher understanding of themselves, and uses a unique Soul-Centered and Integrative process that taps into their passion, purpose, and power. Her latest book, Get Your Career on the Fast Track: A Navigational Guide for the Modern Manager is a comprehensive and interactive book that covers career management from A-Z.