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Researching a career and a company

If you are looking for your next move there are many issues to consider.

To plan your career you need to do more than just surf the internet job boards or register with a recruitment consultancy and in fact knowing how to plan your career can be just as important as having the right qualifications.

  • Think of your career search as a full time job itself: It takes time to research and locate your ideal role. Be prepared to put as much effort into your search as you would into a full time job and if you are already employed, set aside some time very day to devote to your search.
  • Narrow your focus: Don't just blanket the market with CVs or register with hundreds of job boards. Spend time thinking about what you really want out of your next position and make a list of the five most important points: Work/life balance? Fast track career development? Overseas travel? Then consider your skills and experience - as you review job opportunities look for those that match both your priorities and your skills.
  • Know the marketplace: Try to objectively assess how in-demand your skills are.  A specialist recruitment consultancy can often help with this as they are talking to employers in your market every day.
  • Create a winning CV: Make sure that you focus on abilities and achievements rather than just the experience that you have had.

If you are looking for your next move there are also many issues to consider. Many individuals cite lack of career prospects as one of their prime reasons for leaving. Yet often, few have thought deeply enough about how they could have achieved that progression within their current organisation:

  • Objectively analyse your performance to date - if you were the boss, would you really promote yourself before your colleagues?
  • If not, why not? What are your colleagues doing better than you?
  • List your achievements since joining your present firm - how could you have achieved more?
  • Consider any measurable goals that you set yourself upon joining your present company. If you haven't met them, has that been your fault or the company's?
  • Is your manager aware of your goals and are they discussed at your appraisals?
  • Analyse how positive you are in the office - is your cup half-full or half empty?
  • Could you have attended more training courses to improve your performance?
  • Do you have a sense of urgency in the office and do you go the 'extra mile' to ensure complete satisfaction with your work?
  • Have you investigated all possible internal promotion possibilities?

Whilst changing jobs can be one of the most liberating experiences of your life -- the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence, particularly if your answers to the above questions fall short of what you know they should be. Most people could improve their promotion prospects simply by being more positive in the office but if you really want to get on I would strongly recommend setting yourself measurable goals which, ideally, you make boss aware of. Not only does this provide real focus, and a little positive pressure, but it will also enable you to record a list of successes and achievements which do no harm whatsoever when review time comes around.

Clearly there comes a point when you just have to change jobs in order to get on - and obviously that's where a professional recruiter can help. They can help you identify the right opportunities and also invaluable advice on presentation and interview technique - they also make researching a company much easier as they will have first hand knowledge of the people - and the culture of the organisation.

It is vital to undertake some background research about the organisation that is interviewing you and their business sector. Make sure that your job search involves keeping up to date with what is going on across the wider business world by reading the Financial Times or the Economist and at least one major generalist broadsheet. It is also worth setting up your own files on relevant sectors and keeping press cuttings so that you are aware of developments in a particular area when an interview arises. Once an interview has been arranged, get hold of an annual report and any product or services brochures that are available. These should be widely available on the company's website and your recruitment consultant will have visited the client as part of the recruitment process, so pick their brains about corporate structure, culture, personality mix, etc.

There may be, as has been widely reported, a war for talent out there, but employers will still look to recruit the best - planning and research therefore will be key to your success.

By David Leyshon, Managing Director of specialist engineering and technical recruiter, CBSbutler.