Career Planning

"But I just want a job, any job. I don't care what sort of job it is as long as it is a job." This is a very common approach to job hunting. Job seekers often feel despair and they are desperate to get any sort of job they can.

However, this approach can actually make it more difficult for them to find work.

There are three main reasons for this:

1. Employers rate motivation as one of the most important qualities in a job seeker and it's hard to be highly motivated about "a job, just any job";
2. The most effective job search strategy has been shown to be networking, finding jobs in the hidden job market. Unless you have a starting point, one or two target occupations, then it is almost impossible to get started; and
3. Perhaps the most important reason of all: having specific career goals will give you the determination, the motivation to push ahead through all the difficulties until you succeed.

Career counselling is listed as one of the most effective strategies for helping disadvantaged job seekers get meaningful work in an OECD study of labour market strategies.

Career planning can help point you in the right direction, the direction that is most likely to bring you job satisfaction and success both in the job and also in the job hunt.

If you have chosen your target occupation with care, you will be enthusiastic about it. Enthusiasm means motivation. Employers will see your enthusiasm and they will want you on their team. As the author of an American book on salesmanship puts it, "Enthusiasm makes an attractive and convincing salesman out of an assortment of dead flesh and bones."

Our career planning process helps you look at your interests, your values, your personal goals and other factors that contribute to job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is crucial to career success because it's very hard to do a job well if you are not enjoying it.