The most common problem with most young professionals or yuppies I know, and those that I counseled, is the lack of career goals and objectives. The result, they jump on the first job offer that comes their way.

While it is true that we work for money as our primary objective, but this should not be the end. Career counselors and Industrial psychologists agree that money is not an excellent career motivator. You should be able to wade through this stage as early as possible. Planning your career path is imperative if you want to succeed in the long haul and earn your mark on top of the corporate ladder.

So, how do you plan your career? How do you proceed?

Here are 3 surefire steps to take in career planning:

• Project where you want to be 10 years from now. Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound) career goals. If you are currently a Marketing Staff now, you might want to consider becoming a Marketing Manager 10 years from now. Then start setting, and writing, those career goals and objectives.

• Build your core competencies. Your core competencies are special job skills and knowledge that make you effective and efficient in your job. Develop them. Learn new things about them. Learn new technologies that will make you more competitive. If you are aiming at climbing the corporate ladder, then better start acquiring those core competencies required to be successful in your chosen expertise.

• Expand your influence. Develop your leadership and people skills because top jobs required these skills.

Plan your career, don’t just take another job! Take heed to what Lawrence J. Peter has to say:

If you don’t know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else!

Now, have your say please.