Career Planning with Adlestrop Consulting

Many people embark upon a career with little clear idea of what it can lead to and how to get the out of it. The purpose of this guide is to provide a framework for your thinking which should put you and what you are trying to achieve into some sort of context.

Adlestrop Consulting are committed to assisting you in the realisation of your full potential. This is less likely to happen unless some serious consideration is given to career planning.

Why is career planning important

The Market:

Due to the pyramid structure of most organisations there are more opportunities for junior staff than senior ones. Competition for director roles is extremely tough if only because of the sheer number of candidates chasing such roles. It is vital, therefore that through careful mapping of your job moves you show yourself in the best possible light when the time comes to compete at this level.

Motivation:

Setting yourself specific short, medium and long term goals will give you something tangible to aim for. This should improve your level of motivation which will in turn improve your performance at work and hence the likelihood of success.

Your Marketability:

A CV which makes sense to a potential employer will increase the chances of your securing an interview. Once in the interview you can discuss your career plan with the interviewer and demonstrate how the role under consideration fits into it. A common reason for failure at interview is an inability to answer the question “What are your career aims over the next 5 – 10 years?” with any clarity. Don’t fall into the same trap.

Momentum and Timing:

It is never too early to start planning. Also be prepared to review your plans on an on-going basis in order that you can adapt the plan to changed circumstances. As an example of timing the vast majority of chartered accountants who enter industry will do so within 3 years of qualification. Chartered accountants have a crucial career planning decision to make inside those 3 years which comes down to partner versus Financial Director.

You career needs momentum to achieve your medium to long term goals. Plan your career so you don’t peak too early. Leave your options open unless you are keen to specialise in a particular sector.

Career planning model

Technical stage

• Age range early to mid-20’s.
• Main focus of your job is an ‘information producer’.
• Key objective during this stage is to obtain solid base experience in    several areas and to pass any relevant exams.

Managerial stage

• Age range mid-20’s to early 30’s.
• Main focus is an information ‘interpreter’.
• You role should now encompass staff management and will include more technically demanding functions.
• It is at this stage that you should be getting more involved in the actual business and developing the all-important ‘commercial awareness’.
• You should also be developing the ability to ‘control and influence’ – a quality which will be crucial in the future.

Strategic stage

• Mid 30’s and onwards.
• Main focus is an ‘information user’ 
• Full involvement in major corporate issues includes strategic planning. You are now taking important decisions and playing a full part in the actual running of business.

In Summary, the above represents the stages you can expect to go through along the main distinguishing features.