In today's episode, I’m diving into the world of career planning. 

 

and providing you with the tools and strategies to turn your long-term career vision into reality.

 

So, whether you're just starting out in your career or looking to make a change, this episode is for you. 

 

So sit back, relax, and get ready to take your career to the next level.

 

Hello and a very warm welcome to Episode No 61 of ‘Your Bravo Career’

My name is Mark Crossfield, I’m a Professional Career Coach / helping you to love your job and build a great career.  

 

How you can enjoy what you are doing day each day at work

and how to build a great career along the way.

Introduction

 

Welcome everybody to Episode no 61

 

Today, I’m going to be talking about Career planning.

 

Yes, we are still at the start of the year and now is a good time to do some career planning.

 

Well, actually, any time is good for career planning.

 

There is never a bad time to start to love your job and have a great career.

 

So, I will focus on strategies to help you plan your career and provide guidance on how you can set and achieve career goals.

 

Ok, let’s get started.

 

So, one of the key components to successful career planning is understanding your interests and values. And, I know I have mentioned this many times before on the podcast. 

 

Your interests and values should be something you’re always going back to. I recently did a podcast episode on your career values, and I will put a link to this in the show notes. It was episode No 56 I think.

 

Also, make sure you continue to take the time to reflect on what you are passionate about and what is important to you in a career.

 

One of the things that I found helpful is to make a list of my interests and values and keep these in an MS Word file that you can update periodically. Then, you can research different careers that align with those interests and values. 

 

Clients report that this helps them to narrow down their options and find a career that’s a good fit for them.

 

It's also important to remember that your interests and values may change over time, so make sure to continue to reflect on them and make adjustments to your career plan as needed. Again, that word file is useful for this.

 

The next key component to successful career planning is to build your skills and experience. So, take the time to assess your current skills and identify areas where you need to develop.

 

One way to do that is to look for opportunities to gain experience in your desired field, such as new projects, secondments or volunteer work. Also, look for opportunities to take on additional responsibilities at your current job to gain new skills and experience.

 

And it's also important to remember that building your skills and experience can also be achieved through some sort of further education, such as taking classes or earning a certification. I talked about this in episode no 58 of the podcast.

 

The next area of career planning I want to talk about is your connections and network.

 

Building professional connections is a key aspect of career planning. Networking can help you to gain insights into different industries and careers and can also open up new opportunities for you.

 

If you can, try to attend networking events and connect with professionals in your desired field. You can also join professional organisations as this can be a great way to widen your network.

 

Outside of work you could also get involved in community projects. This can also help you to expand your network and gain valuable connections.

 

It’s also important to remember that networking doesn't have to be limited to in-person events, you can also connect with professionals online through social media and professional networks. So, attend networking events, join professional organisations, and use online networking tools like LinkedIn.

 

The final career planning area I want to discuss relates to your long-term career vision. Having a clear vision of where you want to be in the future, and working towards that goal, can help you to navigate the peaks and troughs of your career.

 

Although, it’s important to remember that career planning is a continuous process and it's important to review and adjust your plan as you gain more experience and learn more about yourself and the job market.

 

 

First of all, see if you can research different industries and careers that align with your interests and values. Look into the typical day-to-day responsibilities, the required skills, and the growth prospects of each of these ideas. This will help you to understand the realities of different careers and determine which ones align with your vision.

 

Create a visual representation of your career vision, including your short-term and long-term goals, the steps you need to take to achieve them, and a timeline for reaching them.

 

One of the things that I found helpful is to use a mind map or a Gantt chart to create my career map. 

 

Once you have created your vision, share it with others, such as a mentor, career coach, or trusted colleague. They can provide feedback and support and help you stay accountable.

 

Once you have your vision, you can then create some goals to move you towards this vision.  It can also be helpful to break down your long-term goals into smaller, manageable steps. This will help you to focus on what you need to do in the short term to achieve your long-term goals.

 

Be adaptable and open to change though: Keep in mind that your career vision and, therefore your goals may change over time and, well, be open to that change. 

 

Ok, I hope all that makes sense.

 

 

I’ve been talking today about some actionable strategies for career planning and how to create a vision and set and achieve career goals. 

 

The main focus has been on understanding your interests and values, building skills and experience, building professional connections and networks, and creating a long-term career vision. 

 

I’ve also encouraged you to research different careers that align with your interests and values. 

 

When all is said and done, career planning is a continuous process and it's important to review and adjust the plan as needed. 

 

Don’t forget to create a career vision for yourself and I have just given you some tips on how to do this.

 

So,

 

Your call to action therefore is to take a step back and take a moment to reflect on your career and make a plan for the future. 

 

Using the steps I have outlined here.

 

So, I hope all that is helpful.

 

Not sure, and still need help, email at mark@bravocoaching.co.uk and we can have a conversation.

 

By the way, you can find today’s show notes at bravocoaching.co.uk/podcast.

 

 

If you are interested in working with me, you can book a free discovery call on my website.

 

If you haven’t already subscribed, why not do that now. I’ve got a special guest on the next podcast who I’m excited to talk with. I think you will enjoy the conversation as well …

  

Have a wonderful week and I will speak to you again in a couple of weeks time.

 

Bye for now.