Career Development

Career Development Programme

The Programme

The programme is designed to help individuals clarify their future career direction and develop ways of successfully achieving their aspirations. This can be useful to people in a variety of situations including:

Many people don't have a clear idea of where they want their career to go, what options are open to them and therefore where to focus their energy. This can have a de-motivating effect on them and they can drift into work which doesn't match well with their strengths, temperament, values and aspirations.

A series of focused meetings can raise an individual's awareness of their own abilities, potential and the wider range of options open to them. They can then focus on creating opportunities that will be more suited to them, more rewarding and achieve a balance with their personal life.

The Career Development Programme is designed to adapt to each individual's needs and circumstances. It comprises a series of confidential two-hour, one-to-one meetings, the contents of which are agreed with the client in advance.

Areas Covered by the Programme

The programme will be tailored to meet individual needs and circumstances but generally includes discussion of:

Review of career
To review achievements and reasons for following career path. This will reveal issues to be taken into consideration when considering future career options.
Skills
Ensuring an awareness of the full range of skills, both technical and transferable, an individual has to offer.
Aspirations
What does the individual hope for in their work and personal lives.
Career options
What are the options available to them in the short and longer term? This stage will involve thinking beyond the logical next step and career options expected by others.
Quality of life
What are the key factors affecting the person's wellbeing, which should be protected? It is also important to identify any conflicts between personal and professional life so that these can be addressed.
Motivators
What are the positive and negative factors that motivate the individual and which should ideally be present in any future career. This takes into account and individual's temperament and values.
Strengths and weaknesses
In which areas does the individual perform particularly well or badly? What are the implications for future training and career choices?
Self-marketing
How to communicate, both verbally and in writing, to ensure others are aware of your skills, potential and aspirations. This can include CV writing and interview skills where appropriate.
Training
Develop a planned approach to skills development in support of career aspirations.
Personal action plan
Develop an action plan to ensure the individual takes the initiative in an effective way to maximise their chances of career success.