Think about what you like and dislike, then consider career paths related to your interests. You will often be naturally good at what you enjoy doing and you will enjoy what you are good at. Then try to pinpoint occupations that use the qualities and meet the criteria you have identified. A career action plan is an essential tool for your professional development. It will enable you to set short- and long-term goals, take action, measure your progress, exploit resources and evaluate your success.
Jane Salmons, senior career advisor, Working Careers

Effective career planning is about recognising what kind of person you see yourself as. Are you a potential thrusting executive, or are other things in life - like family and leisure interests - more important? What are the work-related values that matter to you? Freedom and achievement might point you in a different direction from honesty and integrity.

Try identifying some careers that you've always secretly hankered after, and imagine what your life would be like if you worked in that profession. Then brainstorm as many of these as you can and look for common threads. The big question is "Who do you want to be?" rather than "What do you want to do?" Once you know your deeper makeup, then what you want to do becomes obvious.
Mike Duckett, managing director, Coaching for Success

One of the keys to career planning is to look at labour market trends to get a picture of the environment and where it's going. Today, flatter organisations, fewer management layers and frequent restructuring mean that career planning becomes difficult as there are now very few vertical career paths. That doesn't mean, however, that you can't plan; you just need to think laterally and plan in a more strategic and innovative way.

Ultimately, if you don't know where you're going, you'll end up somewhere else. And most people don't know - they simply bump into opportunities. So whether you're a graduate or a 41-year-old job-changer, developing a career plan is a definite advantage. Be self-aware: examine your motivations - what you like, need, want and enjoy, and also your de-motivations - the things you want less exposure to. Then look at where your strengths and weaknesses lie, get out and research the market and you'll collide with the right opportunities. Remember, though, to always go back and check your plan - even the best one becomes worthless if you keep it locked away.
Paul Armstrong, managing consultant, Penna Consulting

Getting a job is relatively easy. Getting the right job in terms of cultural and personal fit is the really difficult bit. It is often tempting to take the path of least resistance and accept another similar role. Get into the habit of performing a regular 'career health check'. Ask yourself what kinds of things give you satisfaction in your current role. Are you considering a change because you are fed up or are you taking a positive step forward? Also, try to visualise what career success would look like to you in 10 years' time and build toward that. Ultimately, the most important thing is to take charge of your own career and not to wait for something to happen to you.
Chris Johnson, director, CEDAR International