If you dream of having a fulfilling and successful career, it’s vital that you make resolutions to go for that development. This plan will definitely involve your desired achievements as well as identifying areas for opportunity, weaknesses and growth. This entire process is what entails career mapping. Sylvain Bizirema, a science and chemistry teacher at Ecole des Sciences St Louis de Montfort in Nyanza District says that first of all, it’s important to note that a goal map pushes one to clarify what truly matters to them and going after it. Once one has this clarity, he says it’s easier to figure out which path they should take, adding that this applies to both learners and those already in the workplace. “When planning to reach your full potential, design a goal map before you even start your journey towards your personal objectives,” he says. A goal map encompasses your objectives in all areas of your life. This can range from physical to social, professional to spiritual and financial. For this reason, looking at your life as a whole is important. Jacky Iribagiza, a counsellor and matron at Martyrs school in Remera says mapping your goals also comes with the benefits of realising your purpose as a person and the elements that refresh your motivation for life. She says that it’s through this that one can reflect on whether your values and principles make you feel good and also determine whether your actions are consistent with them or not. Besides, the counsellor goes on to note that discovering your life purpose also goes hand in hand with identifying the passions that motivate you. Undertaking an activity that makes you feel complete is important. This will allow you to discover what’s really important and essential for you as an individual. With a focus on careers, Aimable Bizumuremyi, a Kigali-based IT specialist says a career map also helps one draw their goals as well as prioritise them. Moreover, he says it also helps in identifying gaps and taking steps to fill them with the requisite skills. “Career map provides direction for your goals and destination. It gives one something to aim for and direct their efforts towards, therefore guiding one to where they want to be. If one takes time to reflect on their hopes and dreams, their goals will definitely centre on what is important at the moment,” he adds. Just as the adage points out, ‘If it is to be, it is up to me.’ Bizumuremyi says one’s success is up to themselves. However, this doesn’t mean that one does it all alone. The point is to take responsibility for your life and career.
