Management & leadership · Short course
Career Development
Identifying strengths, setting career goals and planning professional development.
The programme
Programme overview
Expanded indicative outline. The subject areas are described below; proposed activities and final delivery requirements are confirmed with Ratomac before booking.
Identifying strengths, setting career goals and planning professional development.
The programme brings together personal review, career direction, development planning and progress review. The expanded outline below shows how these areas can be explored through explanation, discussion and the preparation of relevant work products.
A proposed workshop runs through the programme: An employee wants to move into a supervisory role but has no clear development plan. Participants would examine the situation in stages, use the information provided and explain the basis of their decisions. The workshop is fictional and can be adapted when the final training plan is agreed.
Who should attend
Is this programme for you?
This outline is relevant to the following roles. Suitability and any formal entry requirements should be checked for the selected programme.
- Employees planning progression, mentors and people-development staff.
- Individuals preparing to take on responsibilities in this area.
- Teams seeking a shared approach to the work described in the programme.
Purpose of the learning
Intended learning outcomes
- Compile evidence of current strengths, interests and experience.
- Compare the requirements of two possible career directions.
- Develop a realistic learning and experience plan.
- Prepare questions for a career conversation and a method for reviewing progress.
- Combine the module outputs into a reasoned response to the programme’s workplace scenario.
5 learning blocks
Detailed programme outline
01Personal review
This part of the programme examines personal review, with attention to strengths, interests and experience. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Strengths.
- Interests.
- Experience.
- Applied work: compile evidence of current strengths, interests and experience.
Illustrative practical exercise
Compile evidence of current strengths, interests and experience. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
02Career direction
This part of the programme examines career direction, with attention to researching roles and development options. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Researching roles.
- Development options.
- Applied work: compare the requirements of two possible career directions.
Illustrative practical exercise
Compare the requirements of two possible career directions. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
03Development planning
This part of the programme examines development planning, with attention to goals, skills and practical steps. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Goals.
- Skills.
- Practical steps.
- Applied work: develop a realistic learning and experience plan.
Illustrative practical exercise
Develop a realistic learning and experience plan. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
04Progress review
This part of the programme examines progress review, with attention to feedback, evidence and adapting plans. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Feedback.
- Evidence.
- Adapting plans.
- Applied work: prepare questions for a career conversation and a method for reviewing progress.
Illustrative practical exercise
Prepare questions for a career conversation and a method for reviewing progress. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
05Integrated workplace workshop
An employee wants to move into a supervisory role but has no clear development plan. The final workshop connects the earlier work rather than treating each topic as an isolated activity.
Topics to explore
- Bring together the outputs from the earlier modules into one coherent response to the scenario.
- Check that the recommendation addresses the original problem and is supported by the information available.
- Identify responsibilities, dependencies and matters that require specialist input or further evidence.
- Present the proposed response and revise it after questions from the facilitator and other participants.
Illustrative practical exercise
Prepare a concise presentation for the fictional organisation. Include the proposed response, the evidence supporting it and the decisions still required. Finish with a reflection on which aspects could be relevant to your own work.
From discussion to application
How the programme could be delivered
The proposed learning approach combines facilitator-led explanation, discussion of the subject areas and guided work on the fictional scenario. Each module produces a practical output that can be reviewed and improved.
Participants can work individually or in small groups to compare interpretations, explain their decisions and identify missing information. Feedback focuses on the connection between the task, the evidence used and the proposed response.
The final workshop brings the module outputs together. Ratomac will confirm the delivery format, learning resources, entry requirements and any formal assessment or certification arrangements for the selected programme.
Discuss your requirements
Dates, duration & arrangements
Contact Ratomac to agree the final programme, duration and delivery format. Include your preferred timing, location and whether the enquiry is for yourself or a team.
Discuss this programme ↗Indicative outline for discussion. The final syllabus is agreed with Ratomac before booking. The expanded learning activities and workplace scenario are original proposals for discussion with Ratomac.