Planning your Career Path

Some ideas to get you on track and keep you there:

Selecting a career

• Start by considering the mixture of strengths you have and what you know you are good at!
• Talk to people who can help you to find out all of the facts about the types of options that you are considering, what personal satisfaction can you expect, is this career choice what you think it is etc?
• Focus on the whole mix of strengths and talents this career is going to demand from you, not just the aspects that seem most attractive to you. Your recruitment consultant can help you with this.
• Consider what effort you are prepared to make to achieve your career goals. What study, training and qualifications are necessary and are you prepared to commit to that. There are no shortcuts.
• Plan a progressive path, set realistic timeframes and picture in your mind what you want your future to look like.
• Be realistic about a starting point, experience, on the job training and opportunity is the first priority if you are serious and committed to this career. Don't be distracted by the 'trimmings' that others may be enjoying, some sacrifices now will pay off later.
• Measure your progress, especially if the next step does not materialise as quickly as you expect and you become disheartened. Consider how far you have come. Nothing worthwhile in life is easy, sticking with it is the key.

You will never need to ask this question if you have followed all the preparatory steps. The right opportunities will flow to you if you are disciplined enough to do the work! This question only arises when you are attempting a 'shortcut' to success.

Once you have decided on your path, completed the training, study or preparatory work, getting your first job can be the hardest part. Determination and patience will get you where you want to go and the opportunity to build experience. Over time that experience will build on itself and ultimately will lead to promotional opportunities or career expansion that will prove fulfilling and satisfying.

What if I get bored with my choice, and it is not what I want to do later on. I'm afraid to make the wrong choice".

As a career develops, so does your personal growth, offering more and more opportunities, but you need to start somewhere. Remaining goal orientated and focussed on a successful future is as essential to your career success as what type of career you choose.

Curriculum Vitae an essential tool in the recruitment process

This tool will best reflect your true unique qualities. A good C.V. has the potential to determine whether or not, you will be invited to proceed with an interview.

These are some helpful tips to increase your options :

• The best C.V's need to be easy to read, honest and informative.
• Begin with personal details:
  • Include - Name, address, phone contacts mobile and/or home numbers, email address, and a little personal criteria (not essential but it might help your C.V. to stand out).
• The layout should be open and the content should flow as a continuous path.
  • Start with Education including study, qualifications, where study was undertaken, then career history, beginning with the current or most recent employment, covering the past 5 to 7 years.
  • Include name of company, position title, dates of employment, priorities of the work carried out and if practical, reason for leaving.
  • Avoid using abbreviations, jargon and occupational terms.
• Keep the detail brief and highlight only those aspects of your experience that is most relevant.
  • Your C.V needs to reflect your talents and strengths in relation to the specific mix of priorities with each new vacancy, so it may be necessary to adjust it a little each time.
• References
  • Include copies of references, qualifying certificates, work permits, licences.
  • Where possible include endorsement of all relevant facts detailed in your C.V.
• Verbal Referees
  • Consider not including verbal referees at this stage, be prepared later in the process, when you have progressed to serious consideration.
  • Ensure that your nominated referees have been advised and remind them of details surrounding your employment that they may have forgotten.
• Salary Expectations
  • Leave salary expectations off your C.V.
  • An employer would not want to waste time and would clarify salary expectations with you or a consultant before proceeding to the interview stage.
• Finish off with a brief statement of your objectives and long term goals.
  • The purpose is to highlight to the reader the effort and commitment to date that you have made towards your career as well as a clear direction for the future.
  • Achievement is a result of ambitions supported by energy, commitment, talent and effort. These strengths indicate to a future employer your potential to the organisation.
• Cover Letter
  • A cover letter introducing your C.V. will need to be effective if you are to ensure that your C.V. actually gets read.
  • Very briefly outline your selling points, reasons for your application and suitability.
  • This should be brief, well presented and inspire immediate attention.

A potential employer is busy and reading a vast number of C.V.'s is tiring work if the detail has to be hunted for through many pages of irrelevant detail.

Once completed, proof read, proof read and then again, proof read. Accuracy, grammar, spelling is vital.

Interviews

The Interview is a very important aspect of the job selection process, therefore it is essential that you prepare yourself beforehand and know exactly what to expect.

Here are a few guidelines to assist you with the preparation for the interview:

• Presentation
  • First impressions are critical and can either make or break your application
  • Be prompt or even early BUT never arrive late
  • Make sure you are dressed appropriately and in line with the level of the position you are applying for
  • Body language and other forms of non-verbal communication are also important eg. posture and maintaining eye contact
  • Use a firm handshake when introducing yourself
  • Relax and be yourself
• Preparation
  • Research / find out about the organisation concerned.
  • Make a list of any questions you may want to ask about the organisation
  • Remember the interview is a two way sharing of information and appropriate questions will reflect not only your interest but also your care in assuring that your career will be on track
• Information
  • You will need to supply more detailed information, during the interview than on CV, in order to ensure you receive the best possible chance.
  • Interviews vary in length and may take up to 2 hours
  • Remember to firmly shake hands and thank the Interviewer for their time
• Expectations
  • Make sure you have a copy of your CV on hand, along with the necessary references, certificates and relevant information of your previous employ
  • Various tests may be used to verify your level of competency or your personal strengths in order to ensure you can provide the personal attributes the position may require.