Take the stress out of career progression by taking these simple steps to prepare yourself for the job you want. Firstly, you need to prepare prior to completing an application to any job. There are a number of things that you need to clarify which may help you to start the essential preparation that will kick start your career progression wherever you are currently, in terms of jobs, training, or position.

Goals: It is important to know where you want to get in life, is this new step going to take you where you want to go or is it someone else's goal? If it's the right job for you, really go for it!

Planning: Plan your work, work your plan! What do you need to do to get this job? Make a plan and ensure you review if it is working.

Self discovery: You are not an empty vessel; we all have a story to tell of our experiences and knowledge, write out your story and do not forget the interesting bits, then review it and see what aspects of what you have written meet the requirements of the job documentation.
Prediction exercise: Complete this simple questionnaire and allow your true aspirations to come through:

Where do you want to get to in the following time frame?

1 month

6 months

5 years

10 years

How ambitious are you and what is getting in your way? Do not be modest about it and try to take responsibility about what things you have or have not done to get where you want to be.
List your achievements

Chart your career journey:

Chart your successes using a time line. Look at what contributions you make in the world at large, to your family and friends, at work. Think about what you would like to contribute in your chosen field. Be aware of your strengths

What am I to you?' questionnaire:

Select 5 of your friends and ask them to describe your strengths and attributes by listing them using one or two word descriptions only.

If this is too scary, you should list 5 of your attributes and strengths and write them down. Then get a dictionary and look up the definitions of the words you use to describe yourself. Get a Thesaurus and look up the synonyms. Spend some time seeing if you are comfortable with the descriptions.

Finally, all of this work will have given you useful information about your self that you can write about, speak to and build on; it is really about you as a person, not as an invention but grounded in reality. You will now also be aware of the areas you may need to develop in order to meet your goals and aspirations. You may have highlighted areas which you need help with where for example a mentor or coach can help you with. Remember though, take on your own goals and make sure you stay on track and go for it!

Visit our website for more resources and webinars on social work

A good friend of mine called Nay introduced me to the notion of Vicarious Trauma, a concept she as an Australian Social Worker was well versed in before leaving college. It affects all professionals but those in the helping professions can experience it on a day to day basis when dealing with other peoples trauma, we can not help but experience second hand pain. 20 years of being a social worker means a lot of second hand witnessing for me! I am very grateful to Nay for her lovely explanation about it, she also gave us a talk at one of our Stress Free caring In The City training events recently which was much appreciated.
Concepts like these help me to understand that the very things that makes us care for others also makes us neglect our own wellbeing. We are expert practitioners in our fields and highly skilled professionals in other peoples wellbeing but mostly we stop far short in having insight to our own needs and also are not good in undertaking the actions to keep ourselves well.
Vicarious Trauma is negative energy sustained by and transmitted by our thoughts.....Have you seen the secret?
So spending an afternoon with Deborah yesterday and learning a new skill and finishing my book "Inducing Wellbeing in the WorkPlace" left me feeling that I had experinced enough positive energy to counteract my whole week of possible exposure to Vicarious Trauma!
P.S Nays explanation of Vicarious Trauma is in my book.
Have a great week