A career path is essentially a roadmap for your personal and professional development.

Career paths don't always follow a straight line. Your career path is not set in stone. You can change it at any point based on your needs and experiences. However, when your career seems to come to a complete standstill, it can be difficult to know what your next step should be. Does this sound depressingly familiar? If so, it's time to seriously consider mapping out your career path.

What is a career path?

We all want to score a good-paying job in an industry that we love. But let's face it, life isn't some feel-good movie, and amazing career opportunities rarely just fall into people's laps. Therefore, a career path is a series of jobs that help you progress towards your goals and objectives. Your career path includes the jobs you'll need to hit your ultimate career goal, but it doesn't need to follow a straight line. There's no blueprint or timetable for climbing the career ladder. Career paths traditionally imply vertical growth or advancement to higher-level positions, but they can also include lateral (sideways) movement within or across industries.

To achieve the career you want, you need to be strategic with the jobs you take. That's where mapping out your career path can be a major help. Your career path is simply a series of jobs you take that ultimately lead you to your dream career. Career paths go hand-in-hand with a career plan, which is a list of short- and long-term goals that you strive for along your career path.

Ready to take a stab at mapping your career path?

Here's how to create an effective career path process that will put you on the fast track to success.

Step 1. Establish your starting point.

The first step in developing a personal or professional development plan is to understand where you are now—not only to explore your current role, but also to explore your talents, strengths, weaknesses, and ability levels. Only in this way can you know where to start to develop a career path for yourself.

You can ask yourself the following questions:

• How satisfied are you with your role?

• If I were to make a change, what would it be?

• How do others currently view you? How do you want to be viewed by others?

• What are your inherent strengths and talents? ...

STEP 2. Identify your direction.

Once you have a firm understanding of your starting point, identify where you want to go next. You can pinpoint both interim stops and the ultimate destination for your career over the next several years.

After you've mapped out the job positions you need to reach your dream job, fill out the necessary skills, experience, training, and certifications you'll need to achieve each step in your career. If you're in a competitive field, you may want to consider listing a few additional skills that may increase your chances of advancing quickly.

You can ask yourself or advisors the following questions:

• Is your immediate focus on developing new skills to enrich your current job performance?

• What specific skills do you need to develop?

• Is your next career step lateral, up, or over in another organization?

• On what specific role do you have your sights set?

• What skills do you need to develop to qualify for that role?

• How can you contribute to success?

STEP 3. Do your research.

Once you have a career map, start doing in-depth research for different positions, with a heavy focus on your dream career. While individuals may move through the same sequence of roles, each person has unique strengths to leverage and opportunities for development. No two career journeys are the same. Carve out time each day to read news related to your industry and read blogs written by those in your field.

To get a clearer picture of your dream job, try finding a job shadowing opportunity that will give you a behind-the-scenes look at your future career.

Review job descriptions for the positions that interest you most:

• What knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics do you need?

• Identify the specific skills, experiences, and knowledge you need to acquire for your year stops on your career journey

STEP 4. Expand your knowledge and skills.

Now comes the tricky part: gaining the skills and knowledge you need to progress in your career. Read books, take online courses, and use whatever resources you have available to you at work to expand your skillset. Documenting the specific actions you will take, timelines for completion, and how each activity supports the achievement of your objectives helps establish a commitment toward achieving your career goals.

If you want to speed the process up considerably, look into getting an advisor. A good advisor can be a huge asset to your career by teaching you valuable skills and being a source of support.

STEP 5. Set small goals.

While big career goals may be admirable, they can be unrealistic or difficult to achieve. You may encounter detours, roadblocks, or take side roads, so establishing regular check-ins with those you admire and respect can help you course-correct or adjust your plan to accommodate new destinations. To keep yourself motivated and on track, be sure to set small, attainable goals that keep you moving towards your big goal. Remember, this is your plan. You are the only one accountable for success. It is the actions you take and the choices you make that will move you forward through your journey.

STEP 6. Network to gain visibility.

Never stop networking! It's seriously one of the single best things you can do for your career. Not only can networking broaden your job opportunities outside of your company, but it can also help you make a powerful lateral move to a different department. By networking with people outside of your department, you can learn about different positions within the company and get first-hand knowledge of what those positions entail. And if you make a good impression, you could give yourself a big advantage if/when you decide to apply for the position.