Work in Progress | Developing a Career Action Plan

There’s something about this time of year that makes growth feel tangible. Maybe it’s the warmer air, longer days, or the simple joy of seeing new flowers pop up around the local parks and neighborhoods. Whatever the reason, spring has a way of nudging us toward fresh starts, and for in my line of work, that includes careers.

If you’ve been thinking about what’s next professionally—whether that means advancing in your current role, pivoting into a new field, or re-entering the workforce—you need is a plan to get you to the place you want to be.

Introducing: The Work in Progress Career Development Action Plan

Inspired by Idealist’s Work in Progress newsletter, this series is designed to walk you through a practical, manageable approach to career growth over the course of the next three months. Think of it as your summer roadmap broken down into simple, actionable steps.

May 2026: Reflect on Your Skill Gaps

To set us up for success, we're spending the next month considering where we've been, and where we're going. After all, before you can move forward, you need to understand opportunities for growth and development that will bring you where you want to be.

In the first part of our Career Development Action Plan, I want you to take a moment to think honestly about your current career situation:

• What’s preventing you from advancing in your organization?
• If you’ve been job searching, where are you falling short?
• Are there roles or fields you’re interested in—but don’t yet feel qualified for?

These questions point to the fact that skill gaps can prevent you from advancing in the direction you want to go in. You might realize your skill gaps run technical (like data analysis, AI, or coding), or are more general workplace readiness skills (like public speaking, leadership, or project management). Either way, understanding where you can dedicate a little time to growing these skills is the first step to advancing your career.

Try This!

Fill out the one-pager brought to you by Work in Progress to start identifying areas for growth today. You can print it out to put the 'ole pen to paper, or use a free editing tool online. Keep this one-pager handy, though, because we'll be using it for our June exercise (stay tuned)!

One-Pager: Career Development Action Plan | Identify Your Skill Gaps