<span style="font-weight: 400;">What’s the difference between a job and a career? Education House Leeds has a useful analogy for you: a job is to a career as a brick is to a house. The job is merely one brick in the wall; a step in the journey that makes your entire lifelong career. How can we plan and build a more successful career? This is the question we are exploring in today’s blog piece, and we are answering it with a step-by-step guide.</span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Step 1: Explore Your Options</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">You might want to start by seeking a careers counsellor, or at least doing some online research as to the potential careers that could lay before you based on your background. Keep an open mind as you start exploring because you may surprise yourself at the kinds of jobs for which you are suited. Take your time and then narrow down the list to some definite and viable options.</span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Step 2: Set Your Short-Term and Long-Term Goals</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Within the fields you have chosen, set yourself realistic and attainable goals both in the short and long term. Don’t forget to include what your ultimate goal is. It might be to become a senior manager, a partner or to break away at some point to form your own enterprise. That ultimate dream is down to you.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">In the meantime, use reasonable and sensible goals that you know you can realistically attain with hard work and application. Start small and work your way up to build your path to the ultimate dream.</span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Step 3: Build Your CV</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Whatever your plan is, you will certainly need a Curriculum Vitae (CV). In your CV, be sure to include at least the following four things:</span>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>A short personal statement</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that sums up your aspirations, achievements and professional persona.</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>A summary of your education background</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> going back to A-Levels or GCSEs.</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>A summary of your professional experience</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to date, including volunteer experience if it’s relevant or useful to what you are applying to do.</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>A list of your most relevant skills </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">for the job to which you are applying. Don’t just put “Microsoft Office.”</span></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Step 4: Begin Your Job Search</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Use job search sites and useful platforms like LinkedIn to look for companies that match your aspirations. The “holy grail” is a company that will give you the space to grow and develop, as well as the opportunities to advance. Look out for indications that a company will offer promotion chances, as well as opportunities to take on special projects and responsibilities.</span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Step 5: Stick to Your Plan</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, once you have set your path in motion, it’s crucial that you stick at least to the main points of it. Of course, you might make minor changes over time, but if you have taken the time to reflect and come up with your ultimate goals, then those are the ones you should stick to. Deviating from the plan too much brings chaos that you don’t need.</span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Start Planning a Career with New Experiential Courses</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Education House Leeds offers high-quality courses in various areas in business, management and leadership. Put theories into practice by taking part in our experiential learning experiences, and bring advancement to your career, whatever stage you are currently at.</span>