The Researchers' Newsletter – Sept 2024
What are the key steps to developing a career plan?
Many researchers look for the ‘best’ way to draft their career plan.
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What are the key steps to developing a career plan?
Many researchers look for the ‘best’ way to draft their career plan. But, like so many things in a research career, there is no ‘best’ way - just some key steps that are ideal to take. While we focus on your research career, you will also wish to meet career goals across the other facets of your role.
As our RCA Tip Sheet on career planning says: a plan is important, but very few new research staff have a written plan. Further, to implement a written plan you need to have a process, a routine or action strategy to bring that plan to reality and you will develop a path that suits you.
Self assessment
First up, it is helpful to focus on Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes, and Values (KSAV) as a reflexive tool to think about career progression. Consider the KSAV you will need for your next career step. Make sure to look at your current and a future Position Description or Role Statement to identify what you need to meet your current and future roles. Also think about how your research advances the research plans of your organisational unit.
Self appraisal
With a bit of introspection and with an eye to your longer term career aspirations, compare your present KSAV against what is needed for higher levels or roles. Obtain some external validation of your thoughts from a couple of people you trust.
Set some goals
Be sure to focus your attention on what KSAV you actually need to acquire for the next level or role. This is different from the evidence you must bring to bear for your track record. Set some clear goals for each area, preferably using a gap analysis (what you need vs what KSAV you now have, prioritise the ‘big’ gaps). Think about how you can narrow those gaps.
Identify possible activities and resources
For each of the goals that you have set, find activities that will enable you to attain that goal, say, with a publication record, e.g. collaborative projects, presentation of drafts at seminars and conferences.
Decide amongst the options – write your strategies
Aim for the most expedient and effective strategies – collaborating with others, doing a short course, working with someone who is an expert in the field you want to master, identifying publication outcomes, etc. Write these down as your plan of action. Then start doing them, a small step at a time. Keep it as a carry forward when you do your weekly diary planning, so you keep the goals ‘live’.
Evaluation
Periodically check in against your self appraisal and again seek some external validation from people you trust.
KSAV explained
Knowledge – the content that you need to know, eg relevant literature or research methods appropriate to your research goals.
Skills – the ability to do the work eg actually apply those research methods correctly, in all cases and conditions.
Attitudes – behaving in the accepted ways of doing research, eg applying those research methods diligently and with competence and in accordance with all relevant protocols and conventions.
Values – a robust belief system that defines your work and its worth, eg diligent research application in terms of who’s interests and protecting those interests.
Next steps: An RCA coach would ask you: “What is the most important thing you will need to be able to know or do in your next role?”, “Do you think you have those knowledge and skills?”, “How will you strengthen your required knowledge and skills; expeditiously and comfortably?”, and finally, “What, how and who will assist you with this strengthening?”.