Transcript MAKING CAREER CHOICES - London Metropolitan University

© Career Development and Employment Service
Planning your career
© Career Development and Employment Service
Learning outcomes
By the end of this session you will:
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be aware of the importance of career planning as an
ongoing process
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be able to identify the key elements of effective career
planning
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be aware of useful resources to support career planning
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understand the ways in which CDES can support students
and graduates
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Career planning – what is it?
The continuous process of assessing your skills,
knowledge, values, interests and constraints to enable
you to understand the dynamics of the world of work
and to make and implement career decisions
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Why do it?
For yourself, to allow you to...
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make informed choices
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secure a good fit between you and a chosen role
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achieve your goals eg. job satisfaction, recognition,
status, financial reward
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enhance your employability
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develop the ability to be responsive to changing
work environments and demands
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Why do it?
To meet employer expectations and position yourself
in the jobs market you need to demonstrate....
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motivation
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relevant skills
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sector and business awareness
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specialist knowledge (if relevant)
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awareness of professional conduct
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Why do it?
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”
Benjamin Franklin
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Stages of career planning
Assess
and review
Research
Take action
Set goals
© AGCAS, 2009
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Stage 1 - Assess and review
Ask yourself questions....
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what skills do I have and what evidence can I
provide for them?
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what motivates me? (status, financial reward,
closing a business deal, social/political issues,
making a contribution to the community)
Try using careers questionnaires such as Prospects
Planner to help you identify your skills and interests
and “match” these to different job areas
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Assess and review
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Other factors which can influence your planning
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family commitments and priorities
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financial constraints
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expectations of significant others
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self-confidence
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health
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geographical mobility
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legal restrictions eg. work permits
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(lack of) occupational and labour market
awareness
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Assess and review
Optional exercise on career motivation
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Stage 2 - Research
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What’s out there? Find out about...
... job roles, sectors, organisations and employers
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Issues to consider....
... entry routes and requirements; availability of
opportunities; entry level competition; salaries;
promotion prospects; future sector trends; size and
culture of specific organisations
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Relevant resources
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prospects.ac.uk
targetjobs.co.uk
careersadvice.direct.gov.uk
professional institutes
networks - talk to people in your network about their
jobs and employers, their likes/dislikes, current and
future issues in the sector, how they chose their
current job
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Stage 3 – Setting goals
Having reflected on your abilities, preferences and
priorities, and researched the potential opportunities,
the next step is to evaluate this information to allow
you to gain an overall sense of direction.
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Setting goals
At this stage you might:
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weigh up the pros and cons of different job roles – which
would best match your assessment of your skills and
abilities?
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compare the culture and values of different sectors and
organisations, eg “not for profit” vs the private sector
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consider whether you can meet the basic entry requirements
and if not, are you in a position to gain the additional
training/experience needed?
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Setting goals
Through this process you should be able to identify some
areas of potential interest, but this will not necessarily mean
that you have reached your “career decision”. The goals you
identify could be quite specific, eg
“to become an account executive in an advertising agency”
Or they could be much broader in their nature, eg
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“to work with vulnerable people”, or
“to extend subject knowledge via postgraduate study”
In either case you have identified a positive starting point from
which you can move your ideas forward.
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Making goals realistic
It may be helpful to reflect on your progress and to seek
feedback to check the feasibility of your goals
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Careers consultants can offer an opportunity to discuss your
plans and to check that you have considered the relevant
issues. If you have not been able to find all the information
you need, the consultant may be able to make suggestions
as to how these gaps can be filled.
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Any contacts you have who work within your chosen area(s)
may be able to provide another perspective on factors you
should take into account.
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Making goals achievable
It is important the goals you set yourself are achievable
and so you may need to:
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break your overall goal down into a number of
specific steps
Think about timescales – sometimes these can be
imposed upon you, eg an application deadline,
otherwise set your own targets and deadlines
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Stage 4 - Taking Action
This could include identifying:
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opportunities to enhance your employability e.g.
work experience, further study, volunteering
how and when to make applications
vacancy sources
opportunities to develop your job search and
application/interview skills, eg through CDES
workshops or 1-1 advice
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....and back to....
Assess and review
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with the benefit of hindsight, experience and
feedback, re-assess and review your career plan
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tweak it or substantially change your strategy?
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identify a plan B?
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in light of changed circumstances, needs or
preferences, do you want to change career goal?
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Summary
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Planning helps you to make more informed choices and
allows you to meet employer expectations more fully
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Self awareness and opportunity awareness are essential
first steps
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Set achievable goals and do not worry if initially they are
broad in nature
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Develop a plan of action – how will you achieve your goals,
what resources are available and when are your deadlines?
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Review your progress, and adjust plans if needed
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Seek support from CDES throughout the process
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Career Development & Employment Service (CDES)
This service has a presence at both City and North campuses and offers
guidance and support to all students and to graduates for up to 3 years after
they leave. This includes:
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the opportunity for individual discussion on areas such as career
planning and job/work experience search
workshops on a variety of job search topics
information on careers events and activities
For more details on the services offered and on how and where to access
them please refer to the website:
https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices/careers/
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Career Development & Employment Service (CDES)
The University Employment Service provides access to vacancy
information for full time and part-time opportunities, vacation
work and internships.
For details on how to register go to:
https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices/careers/the-employmentservice/home.cfm
CDES Contact information:
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North Campus: 1st Floor, Tower Building, Tel: 0207 133 2094
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City Campus: 8 Goulston Street, Tel: 0207 320 2380
email: [email protected]
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