WHAT’S THE POINT? CAREER PLANNING

WHY ARE YOU HERE? Self Career Study

GOAL ORIENTED: THE POINT OF STUDY IS TO REACH A DESTINATION. You need to be clear about your destination, as well as have the study skills to get there. Career planning involves key academic skills: Research Thinking Writing Presentation

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do. Epictetus

CREATING A PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Answers the question “How will I get what I want?” If you do not have some idea of where you want to go, and how you will get there, you will most likely simply react to events as they occur. Even if you have chosen a direction, you need to be able to recognise and take advantage of an opportunity when it occurs- or create advantages that will help you along the way.

3 GOOD REASONS FOR ANALYSING YOUR ACADEMIC AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT: Clarity. Know what you are trying to accomplish Define The Why. Have a plan that shows you why you are doing what you are doing. Set a direction. Keeps you headed towards consistent goals.

LINKS TO SOCIAL SCIENCE Making a personal development plan is guided by a range of social science theories Recognises a variety of influences on human behaviour

SOCIAL SCIENCE INFLUENCES: PSYCHOLOGY Psychology: Personality theories- individual traits and characteristics vary Learning theories- different ways of receiving information Developmental- people’s needs change over the life span. Motivational psychology- empowering people to move in a positive direction Neuropsychology: based on the principle that changing the way one thinks can change behaviour. Studies of the brain reinforcing link between behaviour and brain **These all place major emphasis on the individual as main influence of change

OTHER SOCIAL SCIENCE INFLUENCES History: work life is affected by larger social trends that change over time (ie impact of new technologies) Sociology- work patterns are affected by how society is organised (some barriers/structures enable, others restrict) Holistic models: more complex ‘web’ of influences: i.e. Te Whare Tapa Wha and the Biopsychosocial models show all dimensions that influence our behaviour

EVIDENCE FOR GRAPPLING WITH ACD Those who write their goals accomplished significantly more than those who did not write their goals. Accountability to self improves Commitment is easier

BE OPEN TO ALTERNATIVES: You should be ready to adjust your plan as aspects of your self-assessment change, as your continuously updated environmental scan indicates that significant changes have occurred around you, or as you move into different stages of your career. A personal development plan will ensure that you are well positioned to change.

THE 4 F’S Fail fast – be ready for things to go wrong, know what early indicators of potential failure to look out for and be ready to act quickly. Fail forward – don’t spend time regretting negative outcomes or on wishful thinking, focus on solutions and focus on learning lessons so that your next attempts have a greater chance of success.

REFERENCES: Donner, G. & Wheeler, M. (2001) It’s Your Career: Take Charge. Career Planning and Development International Council of Nurses. Geneva: Switzerland. Retrieved from See for a description of how career theories have developed since the 1950’shttp:// Links to examples of PDPs: G6iEUcr-L8KLkAXLhYGYAQ&sqi=2&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=1067&bih=465 Very good looking template on this one: article from Bolton University. **** good overview. Some templates for PDP (but not unlike what we already have for action plan) (includes personal goals as well as career) (has excellent templates for a range of ways that students can document their pdp)