Why It’s Important to Start Career Planning Now [Explained in Detail]

Why is it important to start career planning now? That’s a question that a lot of people have asked ever since their parents and teachers were telling them to focus on their futures in high school. As we all know, most people either don’t take that seriously or they still haven’t figured it out despite trying. 

So, why is it so important? Why do you need to start career planning? 

It all comes down to achieving your preferred lifestyle as early as possible, and of course, you don’t want opportunities to pass you by. 

It’s a little more complicated than that, though. So, here are the more specific things that can happen if you don’t start career planning right after you’re done reading this.

1: You Only Have So Much Time

Sure, you look in the mirror, and you’re a young, vibrant adult with your whole life ahead of you, but that changes quickly. Now is the time to make moves that are going to qualify you for your dream job and get you ahead of the curve. 

Time is limited. Let’s say you’re 23 right now. You start planning today. If you conduct a career assessment and pick a career that requires college, there is a minimum of four years between you and just starting your goal. That means you won’t even start your job search until you’re 27. 

That’s also a bare minimum number. Assume that it takes a year to get accepted into college and wait until the semester starts.

Now, you’re 28 before you start job hunting. What if you want to be a doctor? 16 years of schooling will put you at 39, almost 40 years old, before you even get to apply for residency in a hospital.

Even with the trades, where you can usually get a 2-year paid apprenticeship, you won’t start making the big bucks until you’ve completed your apprenticeship. 

Do you see how the actual time cost of pursuing a career is a lot higher than just a few weeks to months that it takes to job hunt? Every moment you spend waiting for the perfect moment to come along puts off the start date of your career.  

2: The Effects of Age on Performance and Hiring

Keeping in mind what we said about the true time requirement needed to pursue a career, it’s time to consider the effects of age. 

Mostly, there are two major effects of age on your career. 

First, there are your chances of getting hired or promoted. 

Unfortunately, the older you get, the harder it is just to get your foot in the door. Even seasoned professionals with years of experience can have problems getting hired in their forties, fifties, or higher. 

So, let’s say you’re 23 and want to go for a massive 16-year degree to start your career. At 39, you’re not a prime candidate anymore.

You’re at a higher risk of developing health issues, you’ll likely be past your physical prime and require certain accommodations, and more. Even if you land a job, promotions might be hard to get due to those same factors.

Then, there’s your ability to perform. As you age, your body just isn’t going to keep up with you. Especially in hectic jobs where you’re stressed and constantly moving around.

Get into the best position possible while you’re young, and your body can acclimate to that activity, and you can potentially work into a less demanding position in that career field by the time your body needs it.

Of course, 16 years of preparation is rare. Most jobs won’t require more than 2 to 4 years of education or skill building to start. However, if you’re waiting now, it’s likely that you’ll wait until you’re much older. At a certain point, even a relatively short prep time can leave you past your prime when you start.