Date: Thursday, 24th September 2009

Top Tips on developing your career was presented by Albert Keeshan, an HR executive with 20 plus years of HR experience, he is currently Managing Director, HR Dept.

The presentation served an instructional guide on effective ways to enhance career growth and the key strategies for managing one’s career in an unstable economy.

Issues discussed include the state of careers in Britain today, decline of traditional careers, components of corporate career management, long term career planning, creating value as an employee and understanding your environment.

As part of the session, Albert Keeshan also shared some survival strategies for the economic downturn; these include  taking time out to analyse trend data on evolving careers, high responsiveness to change, acquiring new skills and qualifications, work shadowing, use of a career coach, active participation in CPD sessions, knowledge sharing, proactive business networking and a lifelong commitment to learning.

The need to take responsibility for one’s career development was evident as the theme of the presentation as shown in the words of George Bernard Shaw below.

George Bernard Shaw wrote: “The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want and, if they can’t find them, make them.”

Below are some extracts from the presentation.

... Assess your personal finances. The ability to make a career plan and stick to it often depends on having the economic resources to maintain your lifestyle, if you are suddenly made redundant. You should have at least three to six months of living expenses set aside. This way, you won't have to take the first job that comes along.

... Network, network, network! Network more proactively into your industry. Go to the conferences you previously didn’t have time to go to, spend time looking up old colleagues who have moved on. Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date. Spend time understanding what strategies your Company’s competitors are taking. Be your company’s ‘ear to the ground’

Thought provoking and shocking facts you didn’t know -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TKbIidbyhk