Overview Ha ving ving a fulfi fulfillling ling c aree r req req uires uires a n investme investme nt o f time a nd ene rgy a s we ll as a n o ngo ing commitment.
Your ca ree r journey sta sta rts with having a we ll thoug ht out a nd c urr urrent p lan.
Your p lan is a n ho ne st, tho ug htful, and rea lis listic a ssess essm ent of yo ur ca reer a sp ira ira tions a nd what you need to do to a chieve chieve them.
This wo rkboo k provides you w ith som som e a c tivities tivities you c a n und ertake to help yo u to plan your ca ree r go a ls. You You c a n c om plete a ll the a c tivities tivities or selec selec t those those tha t you think would be of mo st value to you.
It is YOUR journey!! Ta Ta ke som som e time a nd en joy the journey!!
Index:
Sec tion 1: Self Assessm ent: 1.1
Who a m I?
1.2
What M a kes Me Sp ec ia l?
1.3
Sa tisfying Ac c om p lishm ent s
1.4
Stren g ths
1.5
Inte rests/ Skills
1.6
Ca reer Need s
1.7
Defining Suc c ess
1.8
Prefe rre d Lea rning Style
1.9
Ma pp ing your Netwo rks
Sec tion 2: Your Go a ls 2.1
Life Go a ls
2.2
Ca reer Goa ls
2.3
Aligning Ca ree r & Life G oa ls
Sec tion 3: Your Ca ree r Plan 3.1
Write your c a reer p lan
1.1: Who Am I? Use the grid be low to answe r the follow ing : 1. The q ue stion , “ Who am I?” ten times 2. The p ersona l va lue o r b ene fit you d erive from e a c h of the a nswe rs 3. Ra nk, in ord er of impo rta nc e, from 1-10 with 1 be ing the m ost imp ortant As you 1. 2. 3.
answer the question, consider the following: Loo k beyo nd your tra d itional roles Think of ho b b ies, pe rson a l life, etc . Don’ t w orry a b out ove rla p , not a ll roles a re mut ually exc lusive
Examples are: 1. Role: I a m a wife, husb an d, p artner, stud ent, em ployee 2. Trait: I a m a n e nth usiastic p erso n 3. Skill: I a m a skill te c hnic ian Who Am I? Exam ple: Stud en t
Persona l Va lue or Ben efit
Ra nk
I love lea rning , a nd b ec a use o f this I c a n c ontinue to lea rn/ evolve in a fast c hang ing world.
Loo k b ac k ove r your a nswe rs to the “ p ersona l va lue o r be nefit” q uestion. What c om mo n them es do you see ? Circ le o r underline th ese a nd list the m b elow.
What w ould you d o if your top three roles, tra its, or skills we re elimina te d ? How wo uld yo u rea c t? Wha t wo uld yo u do to fill the vo id ? Wha t oth er options do you ha ve? Use the spa c e b elow t o m akes note s if you w ish.
1.2 Wha t Ma kes Me Sp ec ial? This a c tivity help s you id ent ify wha t is uniqu e t o yo u a nd wh a t skills a nd va lues you ho p e to ta ke to future roles. You a re a lso a sked t o w rite a sta tem ent a b out ho w yo u wo uld like to b e rem em be red . This will help you c la rify the c ore e lem ents tha t w ill be nec essa ry for your future roles, to help you to d eve lop a nd d em onstrate t he b eha viours a nd traits tha t you list. 1. I’m e xp e rien c e d a t _________________________________ 2. I exc el a t ___________________________________________ 3.
I e njo y d oing _______________________________________
4.
I wa nt t o ___________________________________________
5.
I’ve b e en told I’m ___________________________________
6.
I’m ha p p iest w he n__________________________________
7.
I g et inspiration fro m ________________________________
8.
I’m p roud o f _______________________________________
9.
I a sp ire to _________________________________________
10. I g et ene rgy fro m __________________________________
Think a b out the follow ing sc ena rio: You a re a t a g a thering o f family, friend s, a nd w ork c ollea gue s to c eleb ra te your retirem ent. A me mb er of ea c h group (fam ily, friend s, a nd w ork c ollea gue s) ge ts up a nd gives a sp ee c h tha t highligh ts your ac hieve me nts, a c tions, a nd yo ur c harac ter. Reme mb er they are not ta lking a bo ut the p erson you a re tod ay b ut the p erson you have be c om e through your c areer and long life; the journey that ha s lea d yo u to your retireme nt d ay. What wo uld the y say? “ I wo uld like peo ple to rem emb er me a s…”
Ca n you see a ny them es? Wha t level of imp ortanc e a re the se va lues?
1.3 Sa tisfying Ac c om p lishm ents: The p urpo se o f this exerc ise is to he lp yo u ide ntify tho se a c tivities in your pa st from wh ich you g a ined sa tisfac tion and to ide ntify the c ha rac teristics whic h c onsistently ap p ea r in tho se a c tivities. The se c ha rac te ristic s sho uld b e m a ximised a nd fig ure p rom inently in you r future wo rk ac tivities. Know led ge of t hem will be a n a sset in planning for future c a ree rs. In the grid be low , briefly de sc ribe at lea st 10 ac c om p lishme nts which we re sat isfying to you. The a c c om p lishm ent s sho uld b e som et hing you d id we ll. They sho uld a lso b e som ething w hic h ha d results in which yo u ta ke p rid e a nd inc lud e a c tivities you en joyed a nd from which yo u d erived pe rsona l sa tisfac tion. Your ac c om p lishme nts should not just b e wo rk relate d . Think of a c c om plishme nts througho ut yo ur life; use your entire life as a thinking ground inc lud ing c hild hoo d , sc hoo l, university, co lleg e, job / c aree r, hob b ies, etc .
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Now c hoose the top three ac c om plishments and list them on the next p ag e. Then a nswer the nine q uestions for eac h of the a c c om p lishme nts. The rea son w e a re asking you t o w rite your resp onses a fte r g iving t hem tho ug ht is to h elp you b ec om e a wa re o f skills a nd a c tivities which yo u ha ve e njoyed , as we ll a s fac ts an d c ha ra c teristics a b out yourself of whic h you ma y not b e fully aw a re.
Ac c om plishme nt No. 1:
Ac c om plishme nt No. 2:
Ac c om plishme nt No. 3:
What a c tivities did you p erform in ac hieving this accomplishment?
Were the re a ny p a rticula r skills or c a pa bilities you used that c ontributed to his ac c om plishment?
What wa s your role or relat ionship to othe rs, e.g., Lea de r, Inde pe nde nt Worker, Tea m Mem be r, etc
What w as the environme nt? For examp le, were you fo llowing established rules, were you working on your own, etc.
What problems or difficulties did you encounter?
What d id you lea rn from this expe rienc e? Did you lea rn new knowled ge or skills? Did you lea rn new things a bo ut yourself?
What d id you like be st a bo ut this experienc e? Why was the accomplishment satisfying?
Are the re a ny simila rities to the “ Who Am I exerc ise?
Take a few minutes to loo k over you a nswe rs to the que stions on your top three a c c om p lishm en ts. Wha t simila rities or co mm on a lities d o yo u see ? Think ab out : Area s tha t yo u shou ld e xam ine fo r simila rities or c on siste nc ies inc lude : 1.
The know led ge used or the sub jec t m at ters of the ta sk or ac c om plishme nt. Are there c om mon the mes? What a re they?
2.
The role tha t you p layed in the a c c om plishme nt. Wha t w a s it? Was it the sa me in a ll or mo st of t he a c c om p lishme nts?
3.
The environme nt in whic h the ac c om plishment took p lac e. Were the environme nts simila r? Wha t w ere th ey?
Take a few minutes to loo k over you a nswe rs to the que stions on your top three a c c om p lishm en ts. Wha t simila rities or co mm on a lities d o yo u see ? Think ab out : Area s tha t yo u shou ld e xam ine fo r simila rities or c on siste nc ies inc lude : 1.
The know led ge used or the sub jec t m at ters of the ta sk or ac c om plishme nt. Are there c om mon the mes? What a re they?
2.
The role tha t you p layed in the a c c om plishme nt. Wha t w a s it? Was it the sa me in a ll or mo st of t he a c c om p lishme nts?
3.
The environme nt in whic h the ac c om plishment took p lac e. Were the environme nts simila r? Wha t w ere th ey?
1.4 Strengths: In his b oo k Go Put Your Streng ths to Work, Ma rcus Buc king ha m a sked the follow ing questions: •
•
Are yo ur wo rkd a ys filled with t a sks tha t let you r streng ths flow? Doe s you r wo rk eng a ge your ve ry strong est a b ilities?
His d e finitio n o f Stren g th s is “ Your streng ths are yo ur ta lents, skills a nd know led g e. Ta lent is your innat e a pt itud e for an a c tivity. A skill is som ething you lea rn and be c om e m ore ad ep t at do ing through p rac tic e. Knowledg e is your unde rstand ing o f wha t nee ds to b e d one in a sp ec ific situa tion. ”
He g oe s on to sa y:
“ The sec ond myth is tha t you ha ve the g rea test roo m fo r grow th whe re you a re w ea k, so it pa ys to seek growth the re. Although you need to p ay a ttention to we aknesses that ca n end ang er your we ll-being, you w ill find that you ha ve m ore ab ility to grow where you a re strong . Using you r streng ths will he lp you c rea te a p ositive fe ed b a c k loo p . You w ill experienc e g rea ter grow th by e mp hasising w hat you alrea dy d o w ell than b y spe nding time a nd e nergy on some thing your are not m otivate d to do ”
Do you know w hat your strengths a re?
If you w an t to und ersta nd mo re a b out yo ur strengths you m a y wish to sign into Ma rtin Selig ma n’ s Sign a tu re Stren g th s Qu estion na ire…whic h m ea sures 24 Cha rac te r Streng ths. You will ne ed to reg iste r prior to ta king this q ue stionna ire…b ut it is free.
Onc e you a re c lea r a b out yo ur strengths…co nsid er how w ell you ha ve b ee n using t hese and how you c an m ake them m ore prom inent in your wo rk
For mo re info rma tion o n wo rking with you r Streng ths…take a look a t the Boo k Sum ma ry for Go Put Your Stren g ths to Work
1.5 Inte rest a nd Skills: When w e a re d oing things we like, we often sa y we are in “ the zone” or “the flow” , that time see me d t o sta nd still, an d t hat w e just d on’ t know ho w w e p ulled it off. Kee p t his in mind w hen c om pleting the follow ing g rid .
The fo llow ing g rid p rov ide s sug g estions on h ow to a d d ress or ac tion the item s you liste d in eac h qua rter.
1.6 Ca reer Nee d s: Think a bo ut w ha t you wa nt o ut o f your c a ree r … a nd p rioritise the se req uirem ents.
Would b e Nice
Op en for Negotiation
Essential
1.7 Defining Suc c ess: If you we re to judg e w hethe r you a re suc c essful 5 years from tod ay, wha t wo uld you look for? As you t hink a b out this, ensure tha t you r foc us is b roa d a nd includ es a sp ec ts of suc c ess that go beyond your job. The d efinition nee d s to b e d esc rip tive eno ugh so t ha t w hen yo u look at it five ye a rs from now you c an a sk “ Was I suc c essful?” a nd a nswe r “Yes” , “ No” , or “ Partia lly” .
Suc c ess to m e is:
1.8 Prefe rred Lea rning Style Ho ne y a nd Mu m fo rd – The Fo ur Lea rning Styles Review the ta b le b elow a nd d ete rmine your preferred lea rning style. You c an use this to help you d etermine a n effec tive learning p lan and ide ntify the types of learning tha t you will benefit most from.
Activists:
Are you open minded/enthusiastic ab out new experienc es? Do you ha ve a p hilosop hy of I’ll try anything once ? Do you thrive o n the c hallenge of a new experienc e? Do you act first, consider consequences later? Are you flexib le? Do you enjoy the here and now?
Reflectors:
Theorists:
Do you think through p rob lem s in a log ic al ma nner? Do your value rationa lity a nd objectivity? Are you a b le to assimilat e d ifferent facts into coherent theories Do you ha ve a p hilosop hy of ‘If it’ s log ic al, it’s go od ’? Do you tend to be d etached and analytical? Are you intereste d in princ iples, the ories, mo d els?
Do your po nd er experienc es from ma ny different a ng les? Do your have a p hilosop hy of loo k before you lea p? Do you tend to a dop t a low profile? Are yo u thoug htful, tolerant, unruffled? Do you tend to stand ba ck and observe? Do your c ollec t and ana lyse d ata ab out experienc e and events? Are you slow t o rea c h c onc lusions? Do you use informa tion from pa st a nd present to ma intain a big p ict ure perspective?
Pragmatist:
Are you kee n to p ut idea s, theories, and tec hnique s into p rac tic e? Do you like to sea rc h for new ide a s and experimenting? Do you ac t quickly and c onfide ntly on ideas? Do you g et straight to the p oint? Do you ha ve a p hilosop hy of ‘ If it wo rks, it’ s g oo d ’? Do you g et imp atient with end less d isc ussion ?
From C ap italizing on Your Lea rning Style, Hone y & Mum ford 1995, Orga niza tion Design a nd Deve lop me nt, Inc .
My p refe rred Lea rning Style is: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Activists: “ Hand s On” lea rners who prefer to have a go and lea rn through trial and error Refle c tors: “ Tell Me” lea rners who prefer to b e tho roug hly b riefed b efo re p roc ee d ing Theorists: “ Co nvince M e” learners who wa nt rea ssuranc e tha t a p rojec t ma kes sense Pragmatists “ Show M e” lea rners who w ant a de mo nstration from an a c knowled ge d e xpe rt
1.9 Ma p p ing Your Netwo rk Netwo rking is a b out m aking c onta c ts an d b uilding relationship s tha t c an lea d t o job s a nd othe r wo rk relate d o pp ortunities. It is a b out see king o ut pe op le wh o c a n help you…and of c ourse net wo rking m ea ns do ing the sa me for them . List the pe op le o r orga nisat ions in your c urrent netw ork an d those yo u w ould like to a d d to your netw ork. For tho se c urrently in yo ur netwo rk, think ab out the c urrent sta te of t he rela tionship… Is it wo rking a s it sho uld, or d oe s it nee d a tte ntion? Use yo ur p la n to foc us on m a king your netwo rks mo re e ffec tive.
Netwo rk Typ e
Operational Network Purpose: Performing e ffec tively in your c urrent role
Personal Ne two rk Purpose: Enha nc e your pe rsona l an d professional de velopm ent
Strateg ic Network Purpose: Enhanc e long term aspirations and provide visibility into the organisation
Netwo rk Mem be rs
Stea dy State
Needs Attention
Want to Ad d
2.1 My Life Go a ls: Everyone ha s life va lues or go a ls, but no t ev eryone is fully aw a re o f the m . Ach ieving life va lues or g oa ls ofte n requ ires the c om mitme nt to , or sa c rific e of, ot her life v alues of g a ols. This exercise w ill help you to b ec om e a wa re o f go a ls in your life to which you m a y be c om mitted a nd th ose w hich you a re w illing to sa c rific e. It will help you think ab out a nd ra nk the imp ortanc e of c ertain life go a ls. Ra nk the impo rta nc e o f the life g oa ls b elow. Numb er 1 should rep resent the go a l of highest va lue to you Importance to Me
Life Goals Leadership
Expertness
Prestige Servic e Wealth Independence Affection Sec urity Self-realisation Duty Pleasure Balance
To b ec om e a n influential lea d er; to o rga nise a nd c ontrol others; to a c hieve c om munity or organisation goals To b ec om e a n a uthority on a subject; to pe rsevere; to reac h a hop ed for “e xpe rt” level of skill and accomplishment To b ec om e w ell known; to ob tain rec og nition, awards or high social status To c ontrib ute t o t he sa tisfac tion of o thers; to b e helpful to othe rs who nee d it To e arn a g rea t d ea l of mo ney; to build up a large fina nc ia l po rtfolio To ha ve the o pp ortunity for free do m o f thought a nd ac tion; to be ones ow n bo ss To o bta in and share c omp anionship a nd a ffection throug h imm ed iate family and friend s To a c hieve a sec ure a nd sta b le p osition in b oth wo rk and fina nc ia l situa tions To o p timise p ersona l deve lop me nt; to rea lise one ’ s full, creative, and innovative potential To d ed ic a te o neself tota lly to t he p ursuit of ultima te va lues, id ea s, and p rinc ip les To enjoy life; to be ha pp y and c ontent; to have the “ go od things” in life To b e a b le to b a la nc e on t he four key d ime nsions of p hysic a l, me nta l, spiritua l, and em otiona l wellb eing
Other Other
Now c om p are you r results from the “ Who a m I?” exerc ise with t he rankings of you r life go a ls. You should b e a b le to rec og nise the de velop me nt of simila rities with reg a rd t o w hat you c onsid er imp ortant , what you va lue, a nd wha t your priorities a re.
2.2 Ca reer Goa ls: Ac hieving a go al gives a sense o f ac c om p lishme nt; you c a n feel and see p rog ress a nd ge t the p ersona l sat isfac tion a nd stimulat ion tha t is d erived from a c hieving yo ur goa ls or objectives. Use the t em p la te b elow to de fine a tta ina b le yet c ha lleng ing g oa ls for your ca ree r. It is OK just t o ha ve 1-2 go a ls. Think ab out :
What you a sp ire to b e/ d o in 2 yea rs, 5 yea rs, 10 yea rs What you w ould like to be a ble to ac hieve a t work
Ma ke sure your g a ols a re SMART.
S M A R T
pecific eaningful c tion -oriente d ealistic rackable
Goal:
Goal:
Goal:
Goal:
To te st th e rea lity o f you r go a ls a nswe r the fo llow ing q ue stions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
What is the c ost (p ersona l time , life a nd fam ily) of m y c a ree r plans? How muc h am I willing to a sk my family to help m e w ith my c a ree r? How p ersiste nt d o I think I a m? How muc h a m I willing t o trave l? Am I willing to reloc a te? Where do I wa nt to w ork and live? What fac tors ma ke this an ac hieva ble g oa l? What fac tors c ould p revent m e from ac hieving this go al?
Rev iew your resp on ses and ensure tha t t he g oa l still ma kes sen se. There should b e no insurmounta b le o bsta c les which c a nnot b e resolved or wo uld p reve nt you from ac hieving the go al. Sha re your go a ls w ith yo ur fam ily, co llea g ues, men to rs, etc . The y will rem ind yo u, ask ab ou t your p rog ress, a nd e nc ourag e you. Even m ore imp ortant , b y telling p eo ple a bo ut your goa ls a nd he a ring yo urself ac tua lly sta te the m, you w ill inc rea se yo ur c om mitme nt.
2.3 Alig ning Ca reer a nd Life Goa ls: List the Top 3 Life Go a ls you ide ntified ea rlier a nd d et a il ho w th ese p ositively and / or neg atively imp ac t your ca reer go als. Top 3 Life Goa ls
Imp ac t of Life Goa l on Ca reer Goa l
How will you leverag e the po sitive impa c t a nd m itiga te a ny nega tive impa c t in order to ac hieve b oth your life a nd c areer goa ls.
3.1 Write Your Ca ree r Pla n Your ca ree r p la n is your persona l plan o n how you a re g oing to a c hieve yo ur c a ree r go a ls. It a lso p rovide s inp ut into your a nnua l d eve lop me nt p la n. Belo w is a sug g e ste d te m p lat e fo r your Ca ree r Plan . Use t his if it is usef ul or simp ly just d oc ume nt your plan in a w a y that suits you.
Career Goa l No. 1 3-6 Mo nths: Think a b out your short-term g oa ls tha t a re ea sily a c hieved b ut w ill also help you move towa rds your longe r-tea m g oa l. List a c tions you w ill ta ke to m ove tow a rd the g oa l, e.g., c om p lete xyz p rojec t, fac ilitate 2 team mee tings, etc.
6-12 Months: Sta rt thinking b igg er. Wha t ne w skills d o yo u w a nt to learn? Wha t ne w ide a s d o you wa nt to share with others? What c hang es do you wa nt to m ake? Inc lude ac tions you need to ta ke to ma ke this hap pe n.
Bey ond 12 Months: Ca pture spe c ific plans to a c hieve your c areer goa ls that you know m ay ta ke mo re tha n 12 mo nths to a c c om plish. Include target da tes.
Perc eive d Constraints: What are the things that c ould ge t in the wa y of ac hieving your ca reer go al? List these p erceived b arriers and wha t you nee d to d o to overcom e them .
Op po rtunities to Exp lore a t IBM: List lea rning/ d eve lop me nt op p ortunities tha t will help you rea c h your c a ree r goals. Think ab out relationships tha t you w ant to c ultivate/ b uild. Think ab out job roles/ p rojec ts tha t m ight help you ga in skills/ expe rienc e.
