Effective Career Planning For Geographers. Kate Amis, Manager, The Action Plan for Geography, RGS- IBG

Thinking ahead ► What do you want in the future? ► Do you have any career plans? ► What is at the top of your ladder?

The first rule ► Planning ► From the future backwards ! ► Establish some long term goals. ► They do not have to be set in stone.

Top Job Middle job First job Pre career/ Starter Job Your Career as a Ladder

Top jobs and middle jobs ► Competences ► Skills ► Ethos ► Attitudes ► Qualifications ► Experience ► Experiences All to be evidenced

Getting the first job you want Do researchBe selectiveGood CV Match your- self to the job spec Interview technique

The second rule ► Target setting

Over to you ► Activity time !

Schools Project Officer Organisation: Global Action Plan Salary: £23,800 Reference: SPO1024 Location: London based (national travel required) Position Type: Paid/Permanent Part/Full Time: Full Time Closing Date: Website: Contact

Details: The successful applicant will support the delivery of Global Action Plan's Schools projects. They will ensure that the projects are effectively and successfully implemented to deadline and to a high standard. They will need to work closely with local authorities and other local organisations. They will perform the following tasks: - Collect and disseminate information on sustainability issues in schools. - Encourage schools to participate in the programmes by giving presentations, securing media coverage and attending local events. - Ensure that partners, funders and other stakeholders are kept fully informed of progress in the region by inputting to the production of regular progress reports. The successful candidate will have relevant experience working with school kids of all ages, possess strong organisational skills and be able to show initiative working with minimal supervision. Global Action Plan is a flexible employer and an Investor in People. Benefits include a generous annual leave entitlement. Please apply by sending a covering letter/ addressing the personal specification outlined at the bottom of the job description along with your CV.

Specific Duties ► ► Deliver Global Action Plan’s school education programmes. ► Encourage schools to participate in the programmes by giving presentations, securing media coverage, attending local events, etc. ► Represent Global Action Plan at meetings with partner organisations to ensure that the project runs according to schedule and meets agreed targets. ► Ensure that partners, funders and other stakeholders are kept fully informed of progress in the region by inputting to the production of regular progress reports. ► Promote the successes of participating schools through the media, at meetings, conferences and through other means as appropriate. ► Collect and disseminate information on sustainability issues in schools. ► Ensure compliance with any terms and conditions set by funding bodies. ► In consultation with the Senior Schools Programme Manager and Schools Programme Manager, ensure that monitoring of progress of results in participating schools is carried out in line with internal and external requirements. ► Assist in the on-going development of Global Action Plan’s programmes by providing feedback to Global Action Plan and by attending regular staff meetings. ► Regular attendance at Global Action Plan Programme Team Meetings and occasional National Team Meetings. ► To carry out any further relevant duties identified by the Line Manager. ►

Personal Qualities ► ► Good relevant experience ► Possesses strong organisation skills ► Able to show initiative and work with minimal supervision ► Demonstrates good communication skills ► Able to deal effectively with a wide range of individuals ► Capable of responding to changes and adapting to different requirements ► Able to cope with pressure ► Comfortable working as part of a small team ► Committed to the values, objectives and success of the organisation ►

Personal specification Personal specification ► School experience: Has experience of working with schools and / or children of school age, including secondary ► Essential ► Delivery: experience of delivering training in school settings ► Essential ► Organised: Ability to organise oneself and others – to meet deadlines and be prepared for contingencies ► Essential ► Self Motivated : Capacity to work alone with minimal supervision ► Essential ► Diplomacy: Demonstrates tact and mature judgement when dealing with competing demands and project politics. ► Essential ► Interpersonal Skills: apacity to deal effectively with a range of individuals, from school children to senior members of the local authority. ► Essential ► Networking ► Ability to develop networks of contacts – to negotiate with and influence others ► Essential ► Environmental Knowledge ► Understanding of sustainability issues and climate change. ► Essential

The third rule ► Research

Career Areas ► Settlement ► Society ► Geographical techniques ► Physical systems ► Travel, leisure and tourism ► Economic world ► Development and global issues

Settlement ► Are you interested in shaping the relationship between people and their environments? ► Regeneration officer ► Landscape architect ► Town planner ► Environmental consultant

Kate – Surveyor I studied geography at Cambridge and on leaving I got a job with my current employer, Allsop Property Consultants. I did a masters degree for two years and qualified to become a Chartered Surveyor.

Society ► Do you want to work with people and affect their everyday lives? ► Teacher ► Social worker ► Youth and community officer ► Museum educator

Cliff – Researcher I now work as a researcher in Black and Asian Studies.

Geographical techniques ► Are you interested in using cutting edge technology and IT systems to create and interpret visual data? ► GIS specialist ► Location analyst ► Surveyor ► Military analyst

George – uses GIS Using GIS and spatial information risk management companies supply insurers with specialist information regarding the likely risk of insuring a certain area or resource.

Physical systems ► Do you enjoy being in the landscape and working with the natural environment? ► Coastal engineer ► Flood protection officer ► Weather presenter ► Environmental consultant

Lucy – Sky News weather forecaster and presenter I love the changing patterns of geography; no day is ever the same and geography keeps me on my toes.

Travel, tourism and leisure ► Are you interested in discovering, exploring and promoting different places? ► Travel agent ► Eco-tourism advisor ► Heritage manager ► PR and marketing manager

Tom- Documentary film maker I produce documentaries for the BBC, Channel Four, National Geographic and the Discovery Channel. Travel is a big draw and I get to some unusual places.

Economic world ► Do you want to make key decisions that shape the commercial world? ► Lawyer ► Retailer ► Accountant ► Financial analyst

Antony- Retail location analyst I am currently working for a large retailer doing location planning. This involved plotting store locations and customer details onto a digital map.

Development and global issues ► Are you interested in world events? Do you want to work towards improving social inequality across the globe? ► Diplomat ► Overseas volunteer ► Aid worker ► Charity co-ordinator

Tania – DEFRA & United Nations I work on projects for DEFRA with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Sustainable Development Programme. I help organise meetings, write speeches and prepare briefings. I often visit New York and Nairobi.

Environment and Sustainability ► Do you care about the future of the planet? ► Resource manager ► Recycling officer ► Forestry manager ► Cycle route planner

Matt – Carbon budgets Our project is developing ideas for introducing a personal carbon allocation, which would give each of us an incentive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.