Career Planning - or Career Guidance, or Career Coaching
- What is it you need?

Some books and courses aim to simply help you get the next job, others to look at career paths.

A few, like me, want to help you Transform Your Career.

That's a tall order!

I have had many years experience running departments, hiring and firing, and helping people with their personal development. I found that I got a buzz out of helping my guys with their career planning, getting them to "break out of the box" and visualize a different, brighter future - then take action to reach that vision.

I also mentor individuals at different stages in their lives for my professional Institute.

As a result, I looked for ways of helping a wider audience. Rather than pretend I had all the answers, I decided to use my knowledge and experience to see what is the best out there, either free or at affordable prices.

Working for yourself

Maybe working for yourself is what you're looking for. But most people aren't cut out for the struggle, the constant selling, the fear of the bank foreclosing - after all, 3 out of 4 new businesses fail in the first couple of years - and that doesn't cover those people who have quietly tried and failed without registering as a company. The sheer effort and loneliness is enough to frighten you off. Anyway, you'd probably get caught up in a get rich quick scam and end up losing your shirt.....

Some career!

There's also an endless stream of get rich quick schemes coming through as junk mail, or on the internet - I know, I've checked out a good few. Most "get rich" by selling you How to get rich quick........

But something's not right....

However, you know that what is happening now is not what you want. Is it a feeling of failure, or a frustration that things have not turned out as you dreamed?

I have read innumerable books on improving your career prospects, having a more satisfying job, how to improve yourself, increase your motivation. I've also been on many courses, and given some myself, on self development, improving my self esteem and reaching your goals.

I've spent many thousands, and companies I've been with have also spent thousands on me, on career tests, personal development seminars, improving my performance, becoming a better manager, developing presentation skills.

One thing I found with all of this is that over the years, I have understood what works and what doesn't - when money is being thrown away, and when you actually get something out of it.

Motivation - what's the benefits?

To a large extent it is up to motivation. Why do you want to learn more? What benefit? Do you want a more fulfilling career? Or more money? Or both (that's me!)

Not everyone gets the chance to learn more and earn more. Companies are not charities after all. If they can't see immediate benefit, why should they fund you? Especially if what you want to learn is how to get a better job, and not with them!

I spent even more thousands of pounds finding out the hard way that the various Career Counseling services were not all they were cracked up to be. Sure, they provided what they promised, but only if you read the small print.

So, to help your career, I have researched the best of the available career tests, resume books and writing services, and interview questions and techniques - check them out by clicking on the menu buttons.

In addition, there are articles on careers specifically aimed to challenge your thoughts, whether for self development & improving your self esteem or business and management skills

7 stages for Fulfilling your Dreams

When I was writing my book Your Career Strategy, my aim was to give you a systematic approach to a subject which is often not easy to get tom grips with, because of the very personal nature of each person's aspirations. However, there are certain common themes, and I run through these below.

1. Develop a vision

Do you know what you want? Or have you been simply too busy with "life" to do more than daydream? Many people are uninspired in their jobs because they don’t have a clear, long-term vision of why they’re there, and where they’re going.

You need a vision, a goal to aim for. By that, I mean more than meditating on a plush office, country house and yacht - that kind of empty dreaming is not real. You will find books from the '60s, '70s and '80s telling you to repeat your vision constantly, and it will all happen.

Rubbish.

They miss the key driver. The picture in your mind is supposed to galvanise you into thinking how to go about realising your dream. Your Career Strategy is an ebook which can help you through these stages.

Your vision should be an end point complete with steps on the way. Here's suggested steps, each of which requires you to work at it.

Let's assume you are going for a great new career - similar steps apply if you are looking to set up your own business.

2. Read other People's Profiles

When you've fixed on what you'd like to become, look for winners and read how they tackled the steps in their careers. Newspapers and journals are forever publishing articles, and there are books -biographies, autobiographies, even obituaries.

Be inspired by well know figures like Dale Carnegie, Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins and others (check out 50 Self Help Classics by Tom Butler-Bowden - Buy in the UK by clicking here)

Instead of merely skimming them out of interest, digest and think how you might apply some of the lessons learnt - especially their early years.

This helps you draw up your route to success.

3. Understand the Marketplace

When you understand the competition, you will better appreciate the issues involved in senior roles. Are they the challenges you would relish?

Does the industry you are going for have "gurus" you can learn from?

If not, is there something you need to do in the meantime? Specific training for the parts you are not confident about? Experience in Associations and clubs? Could you get to a position where you could delegate the areas you don't like?

4. Collect details of "Dream Jobs"

Never mind whether you are ready for them - they can help in your goals, allow you to work out what skills you need to develop, what qualifications you may need (and the greatest qualification is still experience).

5. Share your Aspirations

If you know someone in a role you want to aim for, ask him to be your "mentor" to guide you on the way.

If you don't know, follow up one of these newspaper articles in Item 2 above, and simply approach him or her - you are interested in what they have to say, so more often than not they will be willing to help.

6. Work on your References

This is a grey area, but the further your career goes, the more likely you are to want your colleagues to sing your praises - the marketplace is one big grapevine - you want to make sure that if your name crops up, it is with favorable noises. Dare I say, networking is a key component here.

7. Practice Presentation

You need to be able to present to get past any job interview.

In addition, all, but all, senior jobs involve presenting, whether it is to a group of colleagues, staff, industry events or whatever. You may be the public face of the organization - or, if it's your own company, you are it..

Take advantage of any opportunities for public speaking - and use them to understand your style and strengths and weaknesses. Work on creating rapport with your audiences.

The more senior the post, the more likely that selectors will want proof of presence and presentation skills

These skills are groundwork to improving your chances of your career being what you want, and not a frustrating mediocre trek through life.

So where do you go from here?

I have looked in the market place for books and websites which will give a good overall picture on career planning. However, I found that most give separate parts, with separate tools and articles on goal setting, career tests, resumes and job interviews.

That is fine as far as it goes. However, if you want something that pulls it all together, then I have found some books that give you a good framework. After reading and applying some critical analysis, I have chosen the websites and books below - you can check them out and decide which you want to go for, after reading my recommendations:

Websites

Books on Career Planning

a) The Pathfinder : How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success by Nicholas Lore
This book is one of the few that has a comprehensive look at who you are through to choosing and achieving your dream career. Chapters on "How to Decide" and "Why you don't get what you want" guide you through how attitudes - your own and those of people around you - shape you, and how you can change. Others go through the researching, choosing career, resumes and marketing yourself - the whole gamut. A really good read that will give you pause for thought and galvanize you to act. This exceptional career planning book can be previewed and ordered by clicking here. Buy in the UK by clicking here

b) I Don't Know What I Want, but I Know It's Not This A Step-By-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Workby Julie Jansen
Julie Jansen's book is inspiring, practical, and thoroughly readable. It will help you to maneuver through a major career change. Her self discovery exercises and no-nonsense suggestions for job search, networking, and interviewing give you the edge in your career planning. . The book also includes a list of valuable additional resources for further guidance.
Buy in the US by clicking here
Buy in the UK by clicking here .

c) How to Get a Job You'll Love by John Lees
I read this book from cover to cover. Written in the UK, I find I keep referring to it even now. Its tables, tests and exercises help guide you through each stage, assessing your current situation (what's good, OK, , mustn't grumble, never want to do it again…), leaping into a new field, creative job search strategies , interviewing and so on.
Buy in the US by clicking here.
Buy in the UK by clicking here.

Electronic Books on Career Planning

a) First of the bunch is my own book Your Career Strategy - I wrote this after I found I was giving similar advice to different people, and it was changing their lives, transforming their careers.
Click here for more information and a preview.

b) Just to prove I am not totally biased towards my own ebook (!), the book below is a rare find - Advancing in Your Career by Jeff Magee
Jeff Magee is a best selling author and motivational speaker in the US. This book shows you how to formulate a fool-proof plan for advancement so you can get promoted and increase your earnings. He covers how to understand how others measure you, and how to market yourself in a logical and powerful way.

This is more a book on how to market yourself, rather than a systematic step by step approach - click here to find out more.