Top tips to achieve your career ambitions
As this new decade gets underway, many of you will be considering making plans for the future. Our Careers, Course and Progression Adviser, Ian McCartney shares his top tips to help kick-start your career.
One of the most exciting, albeit challenging, choices you’ll ever have to make with your future in mind is your career. Although chance may play a part in it, it’s best to be prepared.
Here are some factors which you should consider when thinking about a career for you:
What are your interests?
Do you have any particular talents?
What type of personality do you have?
What is your skillset?
Do you have people skills?
What experience do you have?
What are your life goals and work values?
The next thing you should think about is, what to look for in a career. Here are some points to help you narrow down what type of work you may be looking for:
Industry preferences
Income requirements
Geographical requirements
Stress level
Level of interaction with other people
Preferred type of work
Industry outlook
Indoor / outdoor
Reputation of the firm in the industry
Amount of independence
Balance between creative or conventional tasks
Having a little trouble with the questions so far?
It can be quite daunting when having to answer questions about yourself, identifying your skillset, industry preferences etc. It helps to get some advice. Why not come in and speak to the Careers Advisers at Perth College UHI? Once any key issues are identified, our trained professionals can help you to; discover your strengths and weaknesses; evaluate your goals and values and then sort through what type of career it is that you want.
Our Careers Advisers will not tell you what to do. The Careers Adviser will simply help you to recognise what factors and influences may lead to interesting and successful career options.
Here are some of the topics the Careers Team can help you with:
I don’t know what I want to do…
I want to be a… but I don’t know how to get there.
What courses can I do at college/ university?
Where can I get some work experience?
I need a part-time job.
I’m applying for a job – can I get help with my application / CV / interview?
What can I do with my qualification in…
Once you talk through the options that are available to you, an action plan of what to do next will be discussed and follow up sessions can be offered.
Want to speak with a Careers Adviser? Here’s how you can make an appointment:
E-mail: ian.mccartney.perth@uhi.ac.uk or caroline.curley.perth@uhi.ac.uk
Phone: 01738 877373
Make an appointment through Reception: 01738 877000
Attend the Drop In held at the Careers office (based in the Library, Brahan Building)
