Businesses and the workplace are changing rapidly, and the skills you have today may not be in demand two years from now. An example of this is the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Not only did this legislation alter the accounting landscape, it increased the prominence of specialties such as internal audit and forensic accounting, creating new career paths in the process.

As you chart your career, here are a few questions to consider:

• Is your current career path leading you toward the role you seek? Before looking ahead, first analyze your current situation. What interests you most about your job and what will it take to advance to the next level? Solicit feedback from more experienced colleagues and seek a mentor who will help you compare what you are doing now with where you want to be several years down the road.
  
  
• Have you assessed your strengths and weaknesses? Do you need to develop your creative thinking, teamwork, written or verbal skills? Or, do you feel you're more adept than others in these areas? By conducting an honest appraisal, you'll feel empowered knowing in which areas you excel and which require further development. If you find yourself struggling to find the answers, seek input from managers, peers and friends. Don't feel awkward asking for their advice: Successful professionals often take this step at some point in their careers to enhance their skills and marketability.
  
  
• Where do you see yourself five years from now? Develop a plan to reach your goals. Start by listing the specific experience and qualifications you already possess, as well as those skills you hope to obtain. If you need additional training or on-the-job experience, what steps will you take to gain this expertise? Determine your objectives and create a timeline and action plan for achieving them. Sometimes, it helps to list smaller goals that form the path to larger ones.

The process of career planning is an evolving one -- so treat it like a journey. Adapt when necessary, make stops when you feel like it and explore the unknown.

ACCOUNTEMPS is a specialized temporary staffing service for accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. Accountemps provides support throughout an accounting department. Headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., Accountemps and has more than 270 offices in North America, Europe and Australia. Accountemps' Career Counselor column, a SmartPros staple for over four years, is refreshed twice a month.