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Which occupations suit you?
Which industries you find satisfying?
Which employers you are likely to be happy with?
What you would like to be doing in 5 years time?
What sort of career you want?

To find out the answers, you need to know:

Who you are
In principle what is available
In practice what is available
What fits you

How to improve yourself to get into the career of your choice:

• Know what you want to achieve
• Gain relevant achievements and work experience
• Be competent
• Enhance your key skills

Follow the steps below to start planning your career!

If you need help, enquire at the Careers and Placement, CEDARS Help Desk

PRE-STEP 1

Before you start, complete the Prospects Planner computer-assisted career guidance system.

STEP 1

Choose up to 12 key words from the Prospects Planner print-out to describe your general skills, people skills, interests, and motivation.

This list of key words is your personal profile. For each listed item, give evidence from results achieved in the past to back up your perception of yourself.

STEP 3

For each of the industries related to the occupation that fits your profile, answer these questions:

1) What is the current status of the industry?
2) What are the challenges?
3) What are the opportunities?
4) What do you like best about the industry?
5) What do you like least about that industry?
6) What evidence leads you to this conclusion?

STEP 5

Validate your hypothesis about yourself and the job market with real people out there in the field. Write a short essay of not more than 600 words covering all the issues raised on this board. List the questions to which you need answers, approach the help desk for referrals to practising executives. Make appointments to interview them.

STEP 2

Pick 3 Occupations from the Prospects Planner print-out that you agree with, and answer these questions for each of the listed occupations:

1) What do you like about it?
2) What do you dislike about it?
3) Is this the occupation that you wish to pursue, if not why not?
4) If yes, why?
5) What evidence leads you to this conclusion?

STEP 4

For each of the organisations that provide occupations of your choice, answer these questions:

1) What do you like about it?
2) What do you dislike about it?
3) Is this the organization that you want to join? If not, why not?
4) If yes, why?
5) What evidence leads you to this conclusion?

STEP 6

After each interview with a practicing executive, complete a job analysis, answering these questions:

1) What does the Job Holder do?
2) What Qualifications, general skills, people skills, interests, and motivation does the job holder need to have in order to succeed in that occupation?

STEP 7

Against each item listed in the job analysis, rate yourself. Ask your peers and supervisors to rate you on a 5-point scale (1 for poor and 5 for excellent).

Conclude how prepared you are for that occupation. Draw up a list of actions to take to improve your chances of entering the occupation of your choice. Make a time-line to schedule when to take action.

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