Career Mapping: What is it and how to use it in your career planning
Dr Ashe Coxon – MBBS, FRACGP, DCH, MClinEd, GCCareerDvpt
Career–Life Mapping is a tool which is used appropriately can assist the doctor or student to grasp a clearer picture and a visual tool of what lies ahead of their career.
It provides visual representation of the time commitment required to achieve the desired outcome and any obstacles, commitments or life events that need to be considered throughout the pathway.
Career- Life mapping has 4 primary purposes:
- To assist you to have a visual representation of what different career choices can offer;
- To help explore career life options to incorporate personal preferences, values and ambitions;
- To visualize that requirement for what is required currently to work towards your future goals (Eg MPH required as pre-requisite for Public Health training, so if I want to do public health training where do I fit in the MPH)
- To focus, motivate and inspire with how real and tangible the opportunities are before them.
When creating a career-Life map many areas should be considered and examples of what can be included are below;
- Career-Life (Including estimated expected fellowship training pathways)
- Financial
- Health
- Learning (Including professional development activities, training programs, required research etc)
- Breaks in career
Process
Map your potential careers out in the below exercise and compare each pathway to assist you in your decision making (Eg GP training with special interest in Medical education Vs leaving medicine and doing an education degree)
Be sure to include any specific areas which are important to you (Eg Income, professional development, time off work etc)
Example
Throughout the process of your career planning you have identified that you are interested in education and are trying to decide between a career in medical education or a university degree to study high school education. Once you have finished your career mapping you can visualize and compare careers.
For instance, your career map could be;
- A) GP with special interest in medical education Vs
- B) Training as high school teacher
This example is of someone who has just finished internship and has gained general registration.
GP with special interest in medical education
|
Career Step |
Time Commitment |
Cumulative Years |
Income |
|
PGY2 year to get pre-requisites for GP training (Apply for GP this year) |
1 year |
1 |
~$70,000 |
|
AGPT training (If successful application, if not continue hospital work, potentially another 1-2 years on career) |
2 years |
3 |
~$100,000-150,000
|
|
Overseas trip if GP fellowship successful |
6 months |
3.5 |
Cost $60,000 (? Loan, ? Save) |
|
Attempt to get PT education job/ PT GP job Part time Masters of Clinical education while working |
2 years |
5.5 |
Masters cost ~$20,000 Income ~$150,000 - $200,000 |
|
? Maternity leave as planning child (NB No funded maternity leave from work, government mat leave) |
1 year |
6.5 |
|
|
Finish Masters of Clinical Education (While still working PT GP) |
1 year |
7.5 |
~$100,000 – 150,000 |
|
Continue GP work and applying for education roles. Hopefully by now working as a medical school senior lecturer and GP |
1 year |
8.5 |
|
High school education
|
Career Step |
Time Commitment |
Cumulative Years |
Income |
|
PGY2 year whilst awaiting applications for high school education |
1 year |
1 |
~$70,000 |
|
Bachelor of secondary education while working as PT phlebotomist |
4 years |
5 |
~$30,000
|
|
FT job at secondary school |
12 months |
6 |
~$50,000 |
|
? Maternity leave as planning child (Paid maternity leave) |
1 year |
6.5 |
|
|
Return to work as PT secondary education teacher |
|
7.5 |
~60,000 |
- These are just an example and any income, or education durations given are only examples and it is suggested that you research incomes based on your location, planned employer and/or training program
- You can include any columns that you may consider importance in your decisions
Exercise
You can make up your own format of your career map but below is a table to assist you in your own career mapping.
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Career Step |
Time Commitment |
Cumulative Years |
Income |
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Now is the fun bit, go off and map your career! The process will being you one step closer to figuring out what you wish to do in your career.
If you have any questions about the process of wish to book in with one of our very experienced career counsellors then email [email protected]
