Effective Career Planning Effective Career Planning

For Geographers. For Geographers.

Kate Amis, Manager, The Action Plan for Geography, RGS- Kate Amis, Manager, The Action Plan for Geography, RGS- IBG IBG

Thinking aheadThinking ahead

►What do you want What do you want in the future?in the future?

►Do you have any Do you have any career plans?career plans?

►What is at the top What is at the top of your ladder?of your ladder?

The first rule The first rule ► Planning Planning

► From the From the future ...........backfuture ...........backwards !wards !

► Establish some Establish some long term goals.long term goals.

► They do not have They do not have to be set in stone.to be set in stone.

Top Job

Middle job

First job

Pre career/ Starter Job

Your Career as a Ladder

Top jobs and middle jobsTop jobs and middle jobs

► Competences Competences ► SkillsSkills► EthosEthos► AttitudesAttitudes► QualificationsQualifications► Experience Experience ► Experiences Experiences

All to be evidencedAll to be evidenced

Getting the first job you want Getting the first job you want

The second ruleThe second rule

► Target setting Target setting

Over to you Over to you

► Activity time !Activity time !

Schools Project OfficerOrganisation: Global Action Plan Salary: £23,800Reference: SPO1024Location: London based (national travel required)Position Type: Paid/PermanentPart/Full Time: Full TimeClosing Date:

Website: www.globalactionplan.org.ukContact Email: paul.warner@globalactionplan.org.uk

Details:

The successful applicant will support the delivery of Global Action Plan's Schools projects. They will ensure that the projects are effectively and successfully implemented to deadline and to a high standard. They will need to work closely with local authorities and other local organisations.

They will perform the following tasks:

- Collect and disseminate information on sustainability issues in schools. - Encourage schools to participate in the programmes by giving presentations, securing media coverage and attending local events. - Ensure that partners, funders and other stakeholders are kept fully informed of progress in the region by inputting to the production of regular progress reports. The successful candidate will have relevant experience working with school kids of all ages, possess strong organisational skills and be able to show initiative working with minimal supervision. Global Action Plan is a flexible employer and an Investor in People. Benefits include a generous annual leave entitlement. Please apply by sending a covering letter/email addressing the personal specification outlined at the bottom of the job description along with your CV.

Specific DutiesSpecific Duties►   

► Deliver Global Action Plan’s school education programmes.Deliver Global Action Plan’s school education programmes.► Encourage schools to participate in the programmes by giving presentations, securing media coverage, Encourage schools to participate in the programmes by giving presentations, securing media coverage,

attending local events, etc.attending local events, etc.► Represent Global Action Plan at meetings with partner organisations to ensure that the project runs Represent Global Action Plan at meetings with partner organisations to ensure that the project runs

according to schedule and meets agreed targets.according to schedule and meets agreed targets.► Ensure that partners, funders and other stakeholders are kept fully informed of progress in the region by Ensure that partners, funders and other stakeholders are kept fully informed of progress in the region by

inputting to the production of regular progress reports. inputting to the production of regular progress reports. ► Promote the successes of participating schools through the media, at meetings, conferences and through Promote the successes of participating schools through the media, at meetings, conferences and through

other means as appropriate.other means as appropriate.► Collect and disseminate information on sustainability issues in schools. Collect and disseminate information on sustainability issues in schools. ► Ensure compliance with any terms and conditions set by funding bodies.Ensure compliance with any terms and conditions set by funding bodies.► In consultation with the Senior Schools Programme Manager and Schools Programme Manager, ensure In consultation with the Senior Schools Programme Manager and Schools Programme Manager, ensure

that monitoring of progress of results in participating schools is carried out in line with internal and that monitoring of progress of results in participating schools is carried out in line with internal and external requirements.external requirements.

► Assist in the on-going development of Global Action Plan’s programmes by providing feedback to Global Assist in the on-going development of Global Action Plan’s programmes by providing feedback to Global Action Plan and by attending regular staff meetings.Action Plan and by attending regular staff meetings.

► Regular attendance at Global Action Plan Programme Team Meetings and occasional National Team Regular attendance at Global Action Plan Programme Team Meetings and occasional National Team Meetings.Meetings.

► To carry out any further relevant duties identified by the Line Manager.To carry out any further relevant duties identified by the Line Manager.

►   

Personal QualitiesPersonal Qualities►   

► Good relevant experienceGood relevant experience► Possesses strong organisation skillsPossesses strong organisation skills► Able to show initiative and work with minimal supervisionAble to show initiative and work with minimal supervision► Demonstrates good communication skillsDemonstrates good communication skills► Able to deal effectively with a wide range of individualsAble to deal effectively with a wide range of individuals► Capable of responding to changes and adapting to Capable of responding to changes and adapting to

different requirementsdifferent requirements► Able to cope with pressureAble to cope with pressure► Comfortable working as part of a small teamComfortable working as part of a small team► Committed to the values, objectives and success of the Committed to the values, objectives and success of the

organisationorganisation►   

Personal specificationPersonal specification  ► School experience: School experience: Has experience of working with schools and / or children of school age, including Has experience of working with schools and / or children of school age, including

secondarysecondary► EssentialEssential

► Delivery:Delivery: experience of delivering training in school settings experience of delivering training in school settings► EssentialEssential

► Organised: Organised: Ability to organise oneself and others – to meet deadlines and be prepared for contingenciesAbility to organise oneself and others – to meet deadlines and be prepared for contingencies► EssentialEssential

► Self Motivated : Self Motivated : Capacity to work alone with minimal supervisionCapacity to work alone with minimal supervision► EssentialEssential

► Diplomacy: DDiplomacy: Demonstrates tact and mature judgement when dealing with competing demands and project emonstrates tact and mature judgement when dealing with competing demands and project politics.politics.

► EssentialEssential

► Interpersonal Skills: Interpersonal Skills: apacity to deal effectively with a range of individuals, from school children to senior apacity to deal effectively with a range of individuals, from school children to senior members of the local authority.members of the local authority.

► EssentialEssential

► NetworkingNetworking► Ability to develop networks of contacts – to negotiate with and influence others Ability to develop networks of contacts – to negotiate with and influence others ► EssentialEssential

► Environmental KnowledgeEnvironmental Knowledge► Understanding of sustainability issues and climate change.Understanding of sustainability issues and climate change.► EssentialEssential

The third rule The third rule

►ResearchResearch

Career AreasCareer Areas

► SettlementSettlement► SocietySociety► Geographical Geographical

techniquestechniques► Physical systemsPhysical systems► Travel, leisure and Travel, leisure and

tourismtourism► Economic worldEconomic world► Development and Development and

global issuesglobal issues

SettlementSettlement

► Are you interested in Are you interested in shaping the shaping the relationship between relationship between people and their people and their environments? environments?

► Regeneration officerRegeneration officer► Landscape architectLandscape architect► Town plannerTown planner► Environmental Environmental

consultantconsultant

Kate – Surveyor Kate – Surveyor I studied geography at Cambridge and on leaving I got a job with my current employer, Allsop Property Consultants. I did a masters degree for two years

and qualified to become a Chartered Surveyor.

SocietySociety

► Do you want to Do you want to work with people work with people and affect their and affect their everyday lives?everyday lives?

► TeacherTeacher► Social workerSocial worker► Youth and community Youth and community

officerofficer► Museum educator Museum educator

Cliff – Researcher Cliff – Researcher

I now work as a researcher in Black and Asian Studies.

Geographical techniquesGeographical techniques

► Are you interested in Are you interested in using cutting edge using cutting edge technology and IT technology and IT systems to create systems to create and interpret visual and interpret visual data?data?

► GIS specialistGIS specialist► Location analystLocation analyst► SurveyorSurveyor► Military analystMilitary analyst

George – uses GIS George – uses GIS

Using GIS and spatial information risk management companies supply insurers with specialist information regarding the likely risk of insuring a certain area or resource.

Physical systemsPhysical systems

► Do you enjoy being Do you enjoy being in the landscape and in the landscape and working with the working with the natural environment?natural environment?

► Coastal engineerCoastal engineer► Flood protection officerFlood protection officer► Weather presenterWeather presenter► Environmental Environmental

consultantconsultant

Lucy – Lucy – Sky NewsSky News weather weather forecaster and presenter forecaster and presenter

I love the changing patterns of geography; no day is ever the same and geography keeps me on my toes.

Travel, tourism and leisureTravel, tourism and leisure

► Are you interested in Are you interested in discovering, exploring discovering, exploring and promoting and promoting different places?different places?

► Travel agentTravel agent► Eco-tourism advisorEco-tourism advisor► Heritage managerHeritage manager► PR and marketing PR and marketing

managermanager

Tom- Documentary film Tom- Documentary film maker maker

I produce documentaries for the BBC, Channel Four, National Geographic and the Discovery Channel. Travel is a big draw and I get to some unusual places.

Economic worldEconomic world

► Do you want to Do you want to make key decisions make key decisions that shape the that shape the commercial world?commercial world?

► LawyerLawyer► RetailerRetailer► Accountant Accountant ► Financial analystFinancial analyst

Antony- Retail location Antony- Retail location analyst analyst

I am currently working for a large

retailer doing location planning. This

involved plotting store locations and customer details

onto a digital map.

Development and global Development and global issuesissues

► Are you interested Are you interested in world events? Do in world events? Do you want to work you want to work towards improving towards improving social inequality social inequality across the globe?across the globe?

► DiplomatDiplomat► Overseas volunteerOverseas volunteer► Aid workerAid worker► Charity co-ordinatorCharity co-ordinator

Tania – DEFRA & United Tania – DEFRA & United Nations Nations

I work on projects for DEFRA with

the United Nations Environment

Programme (UNEP) and Sustainable Development

Programme. I help organise meetings, write

speeches and prepare briefings. I

often visit New York and Nairobi.

Environment and Environment and SustainabilitySustainability

► Do you care about Do you care about the future of the the future of the planet? planet?

► Resource managerResource manager► Recycling officerRecycling officer► Forestry managerForestry manager► Cycle route plannerCycle route planner

Matt – Carbon budgetsMatt – Carbon budgets

Our project is developing ideas for introducing a

personal carbon allocation, which would

give each of us an incentive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.