Career Path Planning

A career path can be defined as a series of jobs that lead you closer to your career goals and vision for life. Define your career path, explore your career potential, and begin charting a career path that aligns with your goals with these resources.

Coursera logo C cutout

Explore career possibilities with these popular programs

Status: New AI skills

Skills you'll gain: Threat Modeling, Network Security, Incident Response, Vulnerability Management, Computer Security Incident Management, Hardening, Stakeholder Communications, Intrusion Detection and Prevention, Security Management, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Threat Management, Cybersecurity, Network Protocols, Cloud Security, Vulnerability Assessments, Operating Systems, File Systems, Security Controls, Debugging, Python Programming

Status: New AI skills

Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Rmarkdown, Data Visualization, Data Presentation, Data Ethics, Interactive Data Visualization, Interviewing Skills, Data Cleansing, Data Validation, Ggplot2, Tableau Software, Presentations, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Stakeholder Communications, Dashboard, Sampling (Statistics), Analytics, R Programming

Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Software Development Life Cycle, Unit Testing, ChatGPT, HTML and CSS, Development Environment, Web Design and Development, Jupyter, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Web Development, Data Ethics, Application Deployment, Web Applications, Automation, Interviewing Skills, CI/CD, Professional Networking

A career path can be defined as a series of jobs that lead you closer to your career goals and vision for life. Some people follow a linear path through one field, advancing into roles with more responsibilities and higher salaries. Others shift companies, industries, or roles more frequently, and accumulate experience in a variety of roles.

You might be wondering what you can do to steer your career in the direction you desire. Should you stick to a linear path and seek advancement in a single field, or should you take on diverse roles and explore multiple paths? 

Both approaches can lead to fulfillment when you clarify your vision for the future. A linear career path could mean gaining deeper understanding of a field and becoming a leader or specialist, while a multi-directional career path could mean accumulating diverse knowledge and being able to adapt quickly to an ever-changing professional landscape.

We have resources and articles for every step along your unique career path, including:

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)