If you are ambitious and have high hopes for your future, creating a timeline with certain career goals is an effective way to reach your goals. To make a smooth transition from your current job to your ideal job, job you have to be ready for the job. You should be able handle the responsibilities. And there are ways you can get some hands on experience before reaching your goal. A successful timeline will prepare you to handle the potential responsibilities where you will be firing in all cylinders.

• When a suitable opportunity arises let your manager know about your careers goals. It may lead the manager to have an idea about your goal and you may be offered opportunities that may lead the path. But this does not mean that you should do favours, sweet talk or manipulate your management in any direct or indirect way. Simply lay it out on the table your careers goals and when they are looking for a candidate you will be given priority.

• Find out what are the skills that you may require on your way to reach your goals. This includes educational skills that you may get the training from outside as well as experience requirements that have to come through your career. When you accumulate the skills you would require, you will be way ahead of your competitors and you will be considered as a very competent contender.

• Explore all the career options available for you instead of just settling for what could be in the pipeline. Kindly request an informal meeting with relevant colleagues or managers. During such a discussion you may find out the career options that you never thought about but quite suitable for you. Or there could be legit short cuts to reach your goals. In general those who are in high seats are always happy to help and share their success stories with their protégés.

• Volunteer to complete challenging projects that could be relevant to the career path you are planning. This will be a very informal but important training for you. Should anything go wrong, there is no chance of any blame coming to you as you are volunteering. Hence you will have the chance to learn from your own mistakes. Also it is a very safe way of dipping your toes and see if it is for you. If not, you can go back to drawing board. It may save you lots of time too to know if the a particular career option is really for you before totally committing yourself to it.

Consult the human resources and explore the potential career development opportunities. There could be study re-imbursement for certain fields of study. Even though you might be bound to complete a certain amount of years to give back to the company it will be a smart way to accumulate a wealth of knowledge for free. When company makes you work for them you will be getting best opportunity put your knowledge into experience.