Career Development – VA Success Group

November 25, 2025 George Post in Career Development

How To Roadmap One’s Career & Life Plan

You could say that the top dogs in our society have their personal lifespan mapped out from birth. They attend the top schools and often their families are connected to a particular career path over many generations - be that law, medicine, military, naval or perhaps the church. They just have to keep chugging along on their way, through school, choosing the right exam route for the career and then on up through university. It is probably rather sobering for a youngster with that start in life to discover how limited their choices are, but they don't ususally have to struggle to attain a position. Take the average joe though, small junor school, feeds into state secondary school, unless they have a really clear idea of what they want to do when they leave school, it is left to some talented careers advisers and teachers to inspire their brood. However, many young folk blossom when at upper school and in college - where they discover a talent or a calling in a particular direction. This is where the personal development strategies should be clocking in. If they think about their lifeplan then, they will know that the career choices are enhanced greatly by really looking carefully at the examination grades needed for their chosen career - if they want to study law and have a plan to become a barrister, do they know how to get that training contract and what routes are needed - do they know which university would be best for the task ahead. Being able to demonstrate this forward thinking approach in a well documented presentation when the time comes, will help any candidate stand out amongst many other 'also rans'. This is very important when spaces are at a premium.

July 12, 2025 George Post in Career Development

Job Retention and Capitalisation Are Key To Lifelong Career Path

In days of yore it was quite normal to apply for a job/vocational placement and expect to stay there for an entire working career, be that long or short. These days however, the general thought amongst the younger working masses is to work for say 3 years with one company and then move on to bigger & better, having cut our teeth on the first job. There is far less brand or firm loyalty nowadays as it is perceived to be lazyy and not at all strident or outward facing if we don't branch out and look for new experiences and challenges. There appears to be little feeling that the employers would benefit from some stability in the work market - all those recruitment campaigns and advertising costs, plus the time taken to train up each replacement is astronomical. However, in some specialised areas such as medicine or law, this 'do a turn then cut & run' wouldn't be in any way helpful, the expectation is to get to the top, annd make a name for oneself! For less specialised jobs, career development is more focusing on networking, strategic career planning. There is the national goverment career service agency that can identify skills and explore career options, taking into account academic achievement and using the skill set to formulate a career path to start with. If the candidiate has some idea of what they wish to do as a career, then the possibility of planning their dvlopmeent is made that much easier. Once the first post has been achieved, working at it with clear goals and timeline will give them something concrete to aim for in each working year.

May 29, 2025 Neil Post in Career Development

Surf’s Up! Discover the Best Lessons at Newquay Surfing School

Nestled on the rugged north coast of Cornwall, Newquay Surfing School has earned a stellar reputation as one of the best places in the UK to learn how to surf. Whether you're a complete novice or a seasoned surfer looking to fine-tune your technique, this school offers expert instruction in one of the most picturesque and surf-rich locations in the country. Newquay has long been hailed as the surfing capital of the UK, thanks to its consistent swell, sandy beaches, and vibrant coastal atmosphere. With beaches such as Fistral and Towan just a stone’s throw away, Newquay Surfing School is ideally situated to provide lessons in optimal conditions, no matter the weather or tide. What truly sets Newquay Surfing School apart is its commitment to safety, quality instruction, and personal attention. The instructors are all qualified by the Surfing England and RNLI lifeguard-certified, ensuring students are in safe, knowledgeable hands. Lessons are structured to match all ability levels, from beginner sessions that cover the basics of board control and wave etiquette, to intermediate and advanced coaching that hones more technical skills. All necessary equipment is provided, including top-quality wetsuits and boards tailored to your size and ability. The school also prides itself on its small group sizes, which means more individualised feedback and faster progress for each student. In addition to group lessons, Newquay Surfing School offers private tuition, family packages, and surf camps. These camps are a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the surfing lifestyle, with multi-day packages that combine technique development, ocean safety education, and plenty of time in the water. They also include extras such as beach yoga, coastal walks, and video analysis of your surfing — an invaluable tool for improving your skills. The friendly and welcoming team create a supportive environment that’s perfect for boosting your confidence on the waves. Many visitors return year after year, not just for the quality of the coaching, but also for the camaraderie and passion shared by staff and students alike. If you're planning a trip to Cornwall and want to experience the thrill of surfing in a fun and professional setting, Newquay Surfing School should be at the top of your list. With its prime location, expert instruction, and inclusive atmosphere, it's the perfect place to catch your first wave — or your best one yet.

April 7, 2025 George Post in Career Development

How Does Career Progression Work

When one first joins any job, be it the start of a hopefully life long career, or maybe that stepping stone on our way to finding a true vocation, we all need to show some personal commitment and stadfastness. Just going in to the office or place of work on a daily basis and doing the minimum is never goinbg to cut it in todays very busy and cut throat world. To prove that you have what your employers are looking for, are the one out of the pack who can give their best and achieve the most, then personal development should be a contiuous process. Professional excellence should be the aim and there are various ways to help achieve this. CPD, or continuous professional development is a strategy that most major employers use to encourage the employee to give of their very best at all times. It encourages individuals to develop and keep going, the knowledge and skill set requireed to excel in that respective profession and to comply with professional standards and regulations. Someone who participates in a CPD training course will oundubtedly benefit from networking with experts and peers in their particular fields. By tackling a CPD course, professionals remain relevant and better ready to take on challenges and generally growing and evolving in that work place.

November 19, 2024 George Post in Career Development

Developing A Career & Keeping It Moving

There are thousands of careers out there or so it would seem when you leaf through the pages of the local college for training adults. There are also academies who can provide ranges of courses to suit individuals and organisations to include the full level 6 diplomas in career guidance and development, careers and leadership and a totally bespoke course in SEND. Of course, to ensure that providers can be judged amongst their peers, there has to be a register - so in fact a way of checking how good your supplier of career development is in the grand scheme of things. The most interesting aspect here is the chance to become an actual career development adviser and facilitator and particular professional qualifications are available. A full list of professional qualifications in career development is available together with a means to check progression in this sector or from allied areas. One big sector is policy, campaigns and media and there is a very active career development section as is the career in career jobs board which is the uks only recruitment site that looks absolutely entirely on the career sector and is operated by the career development institute itself.

September 26, 2024 George Post in Career Development

How To Keep Top Career Development In The System

Even in the most highly esteemed legal profession, there needs to be an element of vigorous career development. At some point in any legal beagle's career, an organised development strategy needs to be introduced. Maybe a slight change of direction or a chance to practice in a different discipline. Maybe someone needs the chance to take on greater challenges, or change in career direction, or even just earn more money. First things first, the basics include evauating where you are now and what you have achieved in your career todate. Have you achieved some or all of your original post training objectives for the first five, seven or ten years? Have you set clear objectives for the next five, seven or ten years? The next stage is to set goals and a timeframe to acvhieve them. Unless you have this clear path upwards, there is very little point in just languishing and keep hoping something else will happen. It very rarely does without a huge input from your end. Looking at a current list of criteria for recruitment purposes makes you concentrate on whether any of your goals are achievable that way. Take a barrister for example, they may after several years at the bar decide to take their career in a different direction and become a member of the judiciary - there are many steps to be taken for that to be realised and the law society handbook on career development has all the guidelines on achieving this. And many other topics.