Like much in life, the best outcomes are achieved with careful planning, goal setting, and strategic decision-making. Your career is no exception. Drawing on Bayside Group’s extensive recruitment experience, we look at a roadmap to assist you in achieving your career aspirations, whether you’re starting out or considering a career change.

1. Understanding Your Values and Interests

Understanding your values and interests is an important first step in career planning. Take the time to reflect on what truly matters to you, your skills and what you are passionate about. This self-reflection will help you align your career goals with your personal values and interests, ensuring that you find fulfilment in your chosen career path.

Yale University recommends considering four elements in self-assessment:

1. Skills: Many transferable skills can be used in various industries and roles. An example is communication skills, one of the most ubiquitous, making them highly transferable.
   
2. Interests: Interests can change with age and experience; being mindful of your interests, in conjunction with your skills, personality, and values, is an important consideration in the self-assessment process.
   
3. Personality: Your personality influences the type of role that will suit you best. For example, an introvert may not thrive in a role requiring a lot of social interaction.
   
4. Values: Making choices consistent with your values is key to career satisfaction. Many people cite making a difference as an important value, but that looks different from person to person. It is important to understand your personal values and drivers.

Ask yourself:

• What do I enjoy doing?
• What are my strengths and weaknesses?
• What are my core values?
• Where do I want to be in 10 years?
• What sort of lifestyle do I want to live?
• What industries/sectors am I interested in?
• What types of organisations would I like to work for?

2. Identify and Research the Options

The next step is identifying possible career paths. Many career paths require study and experience, so it is important to consider the prerequisites to avoid future roadblocks or additional time and expense to achieve your goals.  When researching potential career paths, in addition to prerequisites and education, consider lifestyle considerations, typical salary ranges, and what it is like to work in those roles or industries.  Education providers, professional organisations, employment websites such as Seek and Indeed, and our consultants are good sources for helping you refine your options.  

Ask yourself:

• My dream job is:
• The prerequisites for this job are:
• To be successful in this career, I will need to:

3. Developing a Career Action Plan

Once you have set your career goals, the next step is to prepare an action plan to guide your journey. Break down your goals into smaller, manageable steps and determine the resources and support you need to achieve them. Consider creating a timeline and setting milestones to track your progress.

In your career action plan, include strategies for acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge, such as enrolling in relevant courses or seeking mentorship opportunities. Review and update your action plan regularly as you gain new insights and experiences.

Ask yourself:

• Are there time or timing issues I need to consider, such as an application process or length of study?
• Is there training or mentoring in my current role that will assist me achieve my goals?
• Are there any financial considerations I need to be aware of?

4. Networking

Networking is a crucial aspect of career planning. Building a strong professional network can open doors to new opportunities and provide valuable guidance and support. LinkedIn is an invaluable tool for professional networking, providing you the opportunity to link with other people in your chosen field.  In addition, consider attending industry events and joining professional organisations.

Ask yourself:

• Who do I know in this field?
• Who can I contact for advice on next steps?
• What professional networks and or organisations will best facilitate my career aspirations?
• What events could I attend to develop skills and expand my network?

5. Evaluate and Refine Your Career Plan

Regularly evaluating and adjusting your career plan is essential for staying on track and adapting to changing circumstances. Reflect on your progress and reassess your goals as you develop knowledge, experience and skills and be open to making adjustments.



Ask yourself:

• Am I progressing in my plan as expected? If not, how can I adjust to get back on track?
• Is this path still aligned with my values and interests?
• Have any new opportunities or challenges emerged?

Ultimately, career planning is dynamic, so it is critical to be flexible to best navigate the ever-evolving professional landscape.

Bayside Group’s recruitment team can assist you with refining your career plan and aspirations, including a range of free career resources. To discuss your specific situation, contact our local team today.