From Graduate to grown-up: Getting your Career Started

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KNOW YOUR VALUES

• You can’t find out what you want until you find out who you are.  What are your values?  What’s most important to you?  What are you passionate about? What do you really want out of life and how do you want your friends and family to remember you?  Taking the time to think about the things that really matter to you is a good starting point for finding your ideal role.  Work is a very important part of most people’s lives, but it is only one part – so get clear about what you want your life and lifestyle to be like, and what kind of work-life balance you’re looking for.  You need to have a context for your career choices. 

SPOTLIGHT YOUR SKILLS

• The real secret to finding your career niche is to focus on the skills you like to use and things that you’re really interested in.  Carry out a skills analysis: the trick is to focus on your favourite skills.  The mistake that most of us make when we’re asked to list our skills is to focus on what we’ve done in the past, whether we’ve enjoyed it or not.  Think about the aspects of your study or work experience that you’ve really enjoyed, and why.  And be specific: to say that you are a “good communicator” doesn’t really throw a lot of light on the subject.  But if you know that you like talking informally to small groups of people but hate making formal presentations, then you’re starting to get somewhere. 

WHAT INTERESTS YOU?

• Once you know the skills you have and most enjoy using, the next step is to find the area or field where you want to apply those skills.   The key here is to focus on what you’re interested in. Let’s face it, if you don’t care about what you’re doing or the environment you’re doing it in, your job satisfaction isn’t going to be very high.  Write down every single thing that interests you – what books do you read, what films and TV programmes do you watch, what do you talk about at parties?  How do you have fun? Put together a comprehensive list of everything that you get enthusiastic about.

PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER

• Now consolidate your findings.  Use your skills analysis to draw up an ideal role specification for yourself: exactly what would you like to spend your day doing?  Use your interests analysis to identify industries or sectors that appeal to you.  Browse the Internet, newspapers, magazines and, yes, even careers directories for ideas.  Brainstorm ideas with your friends – but remember you don’t want their advice, just their creative input.  Think laterally, let your imagination run riot and, above all, listen to your gut instinct. 
   
  · Be aware, too, of the other factors affecting your career choice. What are the most important aspects of work for you? The money? Your work colleagues? The working environment?  How do you want to work – on your own or in a team, for example?  Do you want to travel or be based in one place?  You need to know your preferences so that you can find a career that fits you.  Don’t be afraid to be imaginative – the work environment is more flexible now than it has ever been, so allow yourself to think outside the “9 to 5” and “traditional career route” boxes.  

At the end of the day, finding the career that suits you best comes down to a combination of self-knowledge and trial and error.  You may not get it exactly right first time, but look on the process as a learning curve and an adventure.  The most important thing is to get out there and get on with it. 

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City Life Coaching 2005

*City Life Coaching is currently offering a special rate for new graduates  - a 90-minute one-to-one coaching session, which can be delivered either face-to-face or by telephone, will cost you just £75 (normal rate £125) if you mention this article when booking.  Contact them on 020 7902 1988 or email jenny@citylifecoaching.com.