How to achieve the best career path for you – step 2

June 23, 2017June 23, 2017 tessaarmstrong.co.uk Career Change, job search, Returning to Work, work-life balance Career Change, job search, Returning to Work, work-life balance

Discovering and exploring career possibilities and ideas

In one of my previous blogs, I wrote about how building your self-awareness is the first best step towards identifying a career that suits you. When you have achieved this, it is time to start identifying and exploring different career and job ideas.

If you haven’t done so already, use the information in my previous blog to help you to identify which skills and qualities you would like to take forward and use in your career. Once you have achieved this, have a think about what these skills and qualities say about you. Are there any common themes? What is missing from your current job that you would like to include in your career?

Now think of as many career and job ideas as you can based on your skills, qualities and personality. Perhaps ask your friends and family for ideas or have a go at answering this question:

Which jobs would you like to try out for one week?

Make sure you write down ALL your ideas – even those you may feel are an impossibility….don’t write-off any job or career opportunities at this stage. Ignore the voices in your head that say ‘you can’t do that job’. They are only ideas at the moment and with some thought and dedication you may be able to make them a reality.

Now start investigating the careers you have identified. Use your contacts to build your knowledge about each idea and contact relevant organisations or companies to find out more.

At the end of this step, the question you are aiming to answer is:

‘What are the names of jobs and careers that would give me the best chance to use my skills, in a field that is based on my interests?’

Enjoy your investigations!

The third and final step will be to start creating a plan of action to develop your chosen career path and I will be covering this in my next blog.

The more career ideas you investigate, the better you will be at choosing the right career for you.

http://www.tessaarmstrong.co.uk

How to achieve the best career path for you

June 23, 2017June 23, 2017 tessaarmstrong.co.uk Career Change, job search, Returning to Work, work-life balance Career Change, job search, Returning to Work, unhappy at work

Building self-awareness to enable the discovery of what you want to do – STEP 1

How do you achieve the best career path when there are so many career and job options available to you? Where do you start? How do you find the perfect match? Is this really possible?

The good news is that it is possible, you simply need to take it one step at a time.

The first step involves building your self-awareness. This means you need to take time learning about yourself so that you become really clear about the kind of career that would best suit your personality. You want to be able to imagine your ideal career and what the outcome of finding this will be like for you.

To help you through this first step, here are some questions to think about:

What are you good at?
What activities and work environments enable you to work at your best?
What motivates you?
What knowledge do you have that you would like to use?

Use enjoyable and satisfying past experiences, in both your personal and working life, to help you to answer these questions. You can then start identifying themes of skills and qualities to enable you to discover what you would like your ideal career to include.

The second step is to start exploring career and job ideas that match your skills and personality and I will be covering this in my next blog.

In the meantime, enjoy spending time focusing on the things you enjoy and are good at!

The more you know yourself, the better you will be at identifying a career that suits you.

www.tessaarmstrong.co.uk

Mums returning to work – How to achieve your desired career

June 23, 2017June 23, 2017 tessaarmstrong.co.uk Career Change, job search, Returning to Work, work-life balance Career Change, job search, new job, Returning to Work, work-life balance

Portfolio Career

Prior to starting a family, you had control of your career. You could work long hours if required. You could apply for the perfect job that suited you. You could go out after work without a thought. You could even go home and flop on the sofa after a bad day at work!

You then became a Mum….

A new bundle of joy entered your life and, as you settled into maternity leave, work became a distant thought as you used the time instead to start adapting to your new life.

However, as the end of maternity leave approaches, the reality starts to sink in as you begin to think about returning to work. Things are different now. Priorities have changed and there is a little person now controlling your time.

How will you be able to control your career when you have your family to think about as well? Who will be doing childcare drop off and pick up? Who will be available if your child is unwell? Who is going to do the cooking, cleaning, shopping and feeding?

It can all be quite daunting for many Mums who also want to continue working and achieve the career they always wished for.

So, how can you achieve your desired career and dedicate time to your family?

My advice is to sit down with a cup of tea (and a large slice of cake), and start preparing your 10-year career plan.

10 year goal – What do you want to be doing in 10 years? Your child will be starting secondary school so you will have much more time to dedicate to your career.

4 to 5 year goal – What can you do that helps you work towards your 10-year goal? Your child will be starting primary school so you will have more time available.

1 to 2 year goal – What can you realistically achieve around your childcare options? Perhaps you can start building a portfolio career to help you progress towards your 10 year plan? (see my portfolio career factsheet)

Now – What can you do to start preparing the way for your career path? Networking? Voluntary work? Self-employment? Do you want to start/continue part or full time work?

It is possible to create the career you desire around your family commitments. It just may take a little more time and planning than you expected so make sure you always keep your end goal in sight.