This Career Development Toolkit contains Interactive Templates and Activities to Reinvigorate your Career
Careers in Higher Education (HE) are changing rapidly as institutions adapt to a global marketplace for students, and as the political and economic landscape becomes more challenging. Traditional career structures are fast disappearing and new areas of work are emerging. How can you manage your own career development through these turbulent times? How can you make sure you are best placed to exploit new opportunities?
It’s easy to lose sight of what you can offer at work, especially if you have worked in the same role or institution for a while. A critical ingredient in career progression is the ability to articulate your existing skills and identify those you want to develop further.
To progress as a Higher Education professional or manager, it’s likely that you will need to demonstrate core skills such as:
- Strategic thinking – The ability to grasp the big picture and to spot long term opportunities.
- Project management – Being able to co-ordinate complex programmes, plan long term, marshal resources and deliver on time.
- Leadership – Setting a direction, inspiring and motivating others and holding yourself and your team to account.
- Innovation – The mindset to think beyond the obvious, to bring a fresh approach to issues and to generate creative, but workable, ideas.
- Managing stakeholders – Building strong relationships with and influencing those individuals, departments and organisations crucial for success in your role.
- Team working – Being sensitive to colleagues’ needs and willing to support them in their work.
- Interpersonal and communication skills – The ability to communicate ideas clearly, to be sensitive to an individual’s needs and to adapt your communication style.
- Flexibility – The ability to apply your skills, personal qualities and expertise to deliver results across a range of activities in different environments.
This career development toolkit will help you:
- Reflect on the skills and expertise you have to offer
- Identify opportunities for progression
- Find out how others have developed their careers
- Learn what skills will be in demand in HE in the future
- Pick up practical hints and tips for your career development
- Help you take control of your own career
Use the activities in this toolkit for inspiration as you work through each step of your career planning.
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