What exactly IS career planning & HOW do you do it?
Susan Smith You're constantly told to 'plan your career' but HOW do you do that? Using my career booster blueprint, you can find out the 4 step process you need.
You know those career questions you dread?
"Have you thought about what you'd like to do with the rest of your life?". Really?!....does anyone actually know the answer to this?
In a few rare cases, some young people know exactly what they'd like to be and pick subjects and qualifications that lead a well worn path to the door of that career. However, the majority of young people I have worked with, don't have a clear answer to this question and yet teachers, parents, universities and employers all seem to want a clear outline of your career plans and motivations at the outset.
How exactly do you career plan then?
You don't just wake up one day knowing exactly what you want to do for a job. Career planning is a process that involves a set of sequential steps. Each step requires research and thoughtful reflection to move onto the next.
Create Clarity
Before you do anything you must begin with the trickiest and most demanding step first. YOU. You need to create clarity by asking yourself what you are passionate about, what you like about the subjects you study at school, what you enjoy doing, what your values are, what you are good at and how you prefer to behave in a group, and work with people.
This kind of thinking requires help to break down and reflect on the questions that are going to produce clarity and clearer career thinking. Using personality quizzes and free career quizzes such as 'Start' profile can help. Also speak to your careers lead and see if your school any further career guidance software that you can use to begin to answer questions about yourself.
Free Personality Quiz
Register and Create a free account with Start
Find Focus
Once you have considered who you are are clear on your interests and motivations, it's time to turn your attention to career areas that are going to play to your strengths and preferences. There are many career areas that will offer you a good fit to your skills but you have to be interested in them and be sure that they align with your values. For example, you may want to work with finance but would prefer to work for a charity over an investment bank. You can research your career ideas based on subjects you enjoy and also career areas that are interesting to you.
Explore jobs based on subjects that interest you.
Explore Jobs based on your degree choice
Decide Direction
You can achieve qualifications and experience via many different pathways. For example as you enter the level 3 phase of your education (A levels and equivalents) you can remain at sixth form, go to college or work and study at the same time. Being clear about the choices and what each option leads to is important. You may choose to study a broad range of academic A Levels at a sixth form or you may want to narrow your focus to a specific career area such as art, media, drama, computing or business by going to college to study a BTEC extended diploma in that particular area. (Note, some sixth forms offer a mix of both BTEC and A level so that you have the equivalent of 3 A levels). 3 A levels or a BTEC equivalent or an Advanced Apprenticeship will all lead to a degree level course or foundation degree course if you wish to pursue a degree. There are many ways to get where you are ultimately going and each one has its own merits. You need to choose a direction that plays to your strengths and preferred way of learning. You then need to make a decision based on what you know about yourself, what opportunities are available and what you want to achieve next.
Find out more about the range of degree and higher courses you can study whilst working
Find out about the range of qualifications you can take post 16
Apply Action
Once you have worked through each step you should now be ready for the final step to move you forward in your career planning. You need to take the self reflection, research and decision making you have been doing and turn it into actionable steps that will help you transition from where you currently are to where you want to be heading. Using SMART goals will allow you to write up an action plan that keeps you accountable and on track to succeed. For each goal / action make it SMART.
S - specific - make each goal specific and narrow for more effective planning.
M - measurable - define what evidence will show that you will have hit that goal.
A - achievable - make sure you can actually accomplish your goal in a set time.
R - realistic - make sure your goal is reasonable and practically possible.
T - timescale - set a deadline for the goal to keep you accountable and motivated
So, there you have it with one final word...networking.
In addition to proactively career planning, you must also be talking regularly to your family and friends about your career ideas and research. Your network will be invaluable as you test out your theories and explore ideas about yourself and your skills and strengths. Networking is also critical to achieving your action plans as you will need to reach out and find opportunities for work experience or to talk to people in industries that interest you. Get in the habit of chatting to neighbours and family friends to find out what work they do and how what journey they took to get into their careers. Showing interest and learning from other people's advice and insights will support your career thinking and inspire you to think more broadly about career options.
If you'd like to chat to me further about all things careers, I offer a 15 minute free consultation and also offer 1:1 appointments.
Please email enquiries@allthingscareers.co.uk and we can get started.
Categories: Career Planning, Career Guidance