Action Planning your Next Steps, Review and course evaluation Practical and Transferable Skills for Computer Scientists 2010 Careers Consultant from University’s Careers Service

Taking stock to spur you into action Reflecting on what you have seen, heard and been involved in since yesterday morning Action planning Setting objectives Making decisions

Action Planning your career Action Planning: What? Plan of what you want to achieve and how you are going to do it Written down Broken down into logical steps/goals Action Planning: Why? To establish direction To keep you motivated

Defining Goals S.M.A.R.T. Think S.M.A.R.T. and… understand clearly what you are working towards spot when you are getting off track or need help recognise whether your objectives are unrealistic and need to be amended

Specific Has a particular meaning Is detailed and focused - not vague Example: To obtain feedback on my communication skills

Measurable Has a value and can be clearly measured: quantifiable Can easily determine whether achieved or not Example: To attend 3 recruiter presentations by end of November

Action Oriented Requires action on your part rather than a passive outcome Includes action verbs e.g. increase / research etc Example: To improve my communication skills by giving a presentation to my peers

Realistic Practical and achievable Unrealistic goals demotivate - what’s in it for you? Example: To learn to program in Maya by the end of March to enable me to apply for jobs in Computer Animation

Time-Bound Clear deadline If you don’t have a deadline, it’ll never happen! Example: To update my CV by the end of this week

Decision Making STYLES Impulsive Emotional Intuitive Hesitant Avoidant Fatalistic Compliant Rational MODELS Guessing Cost/Benefit analysis Force Field analysis SWOT analysis* Ask the Audience Phone-a-friend Use a 50:50 Page 99 of Target IT

SWOT Analysis STRENGTHSWEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIESTHREATS Think about…. Vacancies, competition, current CV, contacts, previous experience, module Think about…. Meetings, departments, line manager, achieving, communicating, offering, asking questions

Good luck with your planning and choices! Keep in touch with the Careers Service. We can help you through the process. Watch out for the employer events on campus Update your CV Submit this along with a targeted covering letter on Friday 8 th October to your Student resource Centre Finally we would appreciate your feedback