With so much time spent with your manose to the grindstone, career planning is essential to ensure you stay motivated and get the most out of working life. Taking stock and reviewing your career plans at regular intervals will help you keep goals within reach and enable you to adjust career plans accordingly. Here's how…

• Are you happy doing what you do? Self-assessment is the first step to planning your career. Are you doing something that interests you? When planning your career you should be thinking about factors that are important to you, where your talents lie and what it is that motivates you. Having a career that interests you will motivate you to excel, and ultimately make working an enjoyable experience.



• Have you set goals? Once you have found the right occupation for you, setting long and short terms goals is paramount to success. Each goal must be specific, measurable and have an appropriate amount of time set aside to achieve it. Make sure you are realistic when setting career objectives. Identify the paths you need to take in order to reach your goals and above all, be flexible - priorities do change.



• Have you had an appraisal lately? Appraisals are a great way to take stock of your career plans. Providing a forum for you and your manager, it can be beneficial to hear what others think and find solutions to problems together. Appraisals will often result in a renewed vigour for your role, too. Receiving praise for a job well done will motivate you to continue doing so.



• Do you need a new career for the New Year? The average person can expect to change careers three to five times over the course of their life. There are many reasons for changing careers - your current job is too stressful, you aren't earning enough money, or development and progression may be limited. "Deciding when to leave a role is a major decision that should be given very careful consideration. If you are unhappy at work it's always a good idea to address your problems with your boss to see if you can come to a mutual agreement," advises Tracy Durrant, Managing Director of Crone Corkill. "Finding a good work/life balance is essential, as is finding the best opportunity to progress your own personal development."



• Looking for a new job? Sometimes we put career plans on hold because finding a new job can be stressful and time consuming. Over half of respondents to a recent survey conducted by Crone Corkill stated that when looking for a new role, registering with an agency is the preferred method. This can be attributed to the fact that good recruitment agencies will have a thorough knowledge of the company they are recruiting for, and a thorough understanding of what you are looking for. This takes the hassle and time out of looking for a job, as you will only be interviewing for jobs that are appropriate for you. They will also provide you with the support needed when looking for a new job such as advice on interview techniques, putting together your CV and even directions to your interview.



• Starting a new job? It is a good idea to take a short break in between roles. This will help you separate your old job from your new one and is a good time to plan what you want to achieve in your next role. Make sure you do your research on the role, and gather as much information as you can on the company you will be working for. "Starting your new job with lots of enthusiasm will help ensure your time there will run smoothly. First impressions do last, so your first day will be one of the most important," says Tracy.



• How can you maximise your potential? Give yourself the best possible chance of success by putting in 100% from day one. Showing initiative and motivation will promote you in a positive light and will help you progress and achieve your goals much more quickly. How can you make work-life run smoothly? Are you using your time efficiently? "Getting the most of out of your working day can be easy," Tracy adds. "Identify how it is you work best, and if possible, it is a great idea to have a mentor. Mentors can provide beneficial guidance and advice and will help maximise your potential"



• Do you need to change with the times? As technology and working environments change, it is essential that we also grow and move with that change. Updating your knowledge and skills base is imperative so that you are not left behind. Identify how your work environment has changed and plan out ways you can tackle the new challenges. "Most companies will offer training schemes to make sure you are up to date with the latest changes in practices and technology," Tracy says. "But, it's also a good idea for the individual to take stock of gaps in knowledge and skills - showing that you want to do well and learning new techniques will benefit you greatly in the long term".