Career Planning

Thinking about your own future can’t start early enough, and it is never too late! It doesn’t matter whether you are looking for your first job or if you have been working for over thirty years. Managing and planning your career is important to your job satisfaction, motivation and development over your entire career.

Career planning is a very personal and individual activity. No-one else can do it for you, but it may help you to feel supported by others (colleagues, supervisors and managers, peers and family) to help you make the right decisions for the right reasons. Do not be afraid to discuss your experiences and ideas for the future with others.

Some general do’s and don’ts to get you started

Don’t

Assume that others know what’s best for you or expect others to tell you what to do
Be put off a career because of someone else’s less positive experiences, views or comments
Expect to be spoon-fed with careers information or advice
Think that making your career choice is easy

Listen and absorb the experiences of others, including those senior to you
Seek out help that is available to help you think about your career
Take a positive view about other people’s career experiences
Be proactive about finding the information and advice you need to begin to make a more informed choice about your career
Take every opportunity that is offered to help you look at your career development in more depth
View your career development as a life-long process that will always need to be self-monitored and reviewed
Be realistic