"The first thing you need when implementing a career plan is a sense of direction." Jane Salmons, senior career advisor, Working Careers

Start by identifying where you are now. What are your main skills, strengths and achievements? If you've heard of a SWOT, try one on yourself (see below).

1 Work out what you need as well as what you want from a job. For example, what matters most to you in your work - flexibility, a certain amount of money, status, power, achievement, freedom, or to make a difference?

2 Be clear about what you don't want from a job and why. It's just as important to know your limits, to stop you from jumping from the career frying pan into the fire. For example, is it office life, the type of work you do, or the lack or extent of customer focus that drives you up the wall?

	"The big question is who do you want to be? Rather than what do you want to do?" Mike Duckett, managing director, Coaching for Success

3 Separate who you are from what you do. You will never be able to explore options outside of your current profession or role if you define yourself by your present job. This will also help you spot your transferable skills, eg 'I can manage people and budgets to tight deadlines' rather than 'I am a project manager'.

4 Put these together into a set of career criteria - what any job must (not) have to give your career satisfaction - and visualise what career success would look like for you in five or 10 years' time. This will give you an idea of the kinds of roles you need. Keep these career criteria with you to compare any jobs along the way.

	"Examine your motivations and your de-motivations - what you want less exposure to." Paul Armstrong, managing consultant, Penna Consulting

6 If you don't have a defined ambition, then work forward. From your career criteria, look at the kinds of roles you could be doing in five or 10 years' time. Then, to make them more real, picture yourself in a few of your possible roles. "If I were a... my typical day would look like this"; "the pressures on me would be..."; and "the skills I would be using would be..."

7 Remember to do your research. Never leap without looking - that's the point of the plan. Find out about the industry, profession or job you want to pursue; for example, is the role in an industry that is already over-crowded, or that is re-structuring?

	"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

8 Be realistic in terms of the skills you bring: do you have the right skills required for the role? Would it take you too long to get them?

9 Make sure your motives are positive. Whatever you do, don't base your whole career plan on a knee-jerk reaction or negative impulse. For example, ask yourself if you're just looking to leave because you're frustrated, hate your boss or are bored etc. Be sure all your ambitions are what you really want.