This morning my oldest daughter had to drive to Greeley, Colorado (a couple of hours from where we live) to pick up her diploma from the University of Northern Colorado. I told her to be sure and stop by Starbucks on her way home. When she asked me why, I explained...

"Well, it's my understanding that your diploma plus about five dollars will get you a really good cup of coffee there."

Rimshot! Or more like a half a rimshot. I can't award a full one because:

1. That kind of cynicism is unseemly coming from a father.

2. I stole the joke. My Dad said the same thing when I graduated from college mumbledy-mumble years ago. Okay, well not the exact same thing. My BA in English bought a cheaper cup of coffee in those days (I think he said “a dollar”) and it came from McDonald’s, seeing as there were no Starbucks nearby– yes they did exist at the time.

As I did some years ago, my daughter is entering a sluggish job market that isn't too kind to new graduates. She also majored in English, heeding my advice that such a degree is the surest path to self-esteem and career security. But there are important differences between us. She graduated Summa Cum Laude, he said proudly. Plus her degree is in English and secondary education, so there is this whole sort of implied career that I never had. That's not to say that there's a job just waiting for her, there is not, but she has earned her degree with more specifics in mind than I ever did. She's working in child care this summer and is negotiating a position teaching English overseas starting this fall.

So the big difference between the two of us is that she has a plan. That's something that I only realized later we need at every stage of our working lives.A college diploma and five bucks might get you a pretty good cup of coffee. But a college diploma and a plan -- one that's thought-out and an executable -- that might get you a career.

So let's all put the cynicism aside and be thinking about our next move. Even if your plan is to stay right where you are and keep doing exactly what you're doing (and good luck!) you need a plan around maintaining the skills, knowledge, strategies, and work habits that will continue to make you a good fit for that ideal position. But if you're plan is to change jobs, be promoted, make a lateral move, redefine your position, etc. -- you need a plan.

That's the first step. The cup of coffee is optional.