Top 5 Tips for Successful Career Planning

1. Evaluate your current job satisfaction

So many of us are stuck in a rut at work, but it's often hard to work out what you want to achieve or change. It may sound laborious, but maintaining a journal of your daily reactions to your job can be extremely beneficial. List situations that you like and dislike and you'll start to observe recurring themes, to help you identify areas for change. Try to relate your dissatisfactions to what you are doing; for example, check whether the discomfort is related to the content of your work, volume of work, your company culture, or the people with whom you work. After a week or so, review this to see what you should start to change and what career and jobs match your personal goals.

2. Assess your values and skills

Take a few minutes to think about what your core values, strengths and weaknesses are. Remember you'll probably enjoy your role more if it plays to your strengths and interests. Think about what jobs you've done well in the past, situations where you've particularly enjoyed work and received positive feedback from peers and superiors. Write these down and use them as a guide to the type of roles and working environments you'll excel in.