Five-Year Career Plan

The Five-Year Career Plan is designed to help me develop skills in my current job or to
prepare for my next job. This plan is very much an individual and personal plan and is
designed to facilitate my growth, development and advancement. Always use the
SMART model when setting goals: ​S​pecific, ​M​easurable, ​A​ttainable, ​R​ealistic and
within a specific ​T​imeframe.

Plan Period:​ From - October 2020 To - October 2025

My Current Position:​ 2nd Year student at Shipley College- studying Level 3 Business

My Long-Term Goal: Ultimately, I want to work at a bank in the banking sector-

preferably investment banking, corporate finance or wealth management. To be able to
achieve my goal- over the next 5 years, I want to finish my course at Shipley College
with D*D*D* and get into one of my shortlisted universities and come out with a 1st
class honours degree.

Intermediate Steps Over the Next Five Years to Reach My Goal

In this document, I am setting two-three short term goals (i.e. those in the
next 2 years) and the remainder for the medium term (following 3 years)

Year One Currently(October 2020) I am working towards my BTEC Business L3

qualification. This is my 2nd and final year. Last year I did 9 units and have
2020-21 got D(Distinctions) for them all. This year my goal is clear- I want to
achieve D’s on the remaining 9 which will get me a D*D*D* by the end of
this course.

With this, I need to actively look for a placement(looking at banks/financial

institutions/accountancy firms) to complete my course. Alongside studying,
I need to try and get a part-time job too.

I also need to prepare to go to university. I have started working on my

personal statement and I need to get my first draft ready before the end of
this term(October 2020). By November I should have my final statement
ready to send off. I am looking to apply to(in order of choice) either:
1. London Institute of Banking and Finance (LIBF)-
BSc(Hons) Banking and Finance
2. University of Birmingham-
BSc Money, Banking and Finance
3. City, University of London-
BSc Banking and International Finance
4. London Institute of Banking and Finance (LIBF)-
BSc(Hons) Finance, Investment & Risk
5. Nottingham Trent University-
BSc Economics with International Banking and Finance
Year Two In September 2021, I will start my course at university(hopefully at LIBF). If
2021-22 everything goes to plan, I will be based in London for the next 4 years.

According to the ‘​Student Finance Calculator​’ by gov.uk, I could get around

£10,000(estimate) every year for maintenance costs. I understand living in
London is expensive. To cover extra costs, I need to get a part-time job.
Ideally, an entry-level role at a bank, so that I am able to set my foot in the
door.

Being in the first year at university, I need to get comfortable with new
surroundings and make myself feel like I’m at home, away-from-home and
most importantly enjoy university and student life!

Before the end of this year, I want to pass my driving theory test.

**Key rule- saving up for the next few years**

Year September 2022 will mark the beginning of my 2nd year at university. I
Three want to move out of student halls this year and maybe live in a shared
2022-23 accommodation with some friends.

To cover extra costs, I need to continue or get another a part-time job.

This year, I need to be fully-focussed on my grades. Establish a work-life

balance. **Can not afford to go wrong here-the grades are very important**

Alongside studying, before midterm, I want to start driving lessons. Which

will take me the remainder of the year to be ready for the tests.

Year Four The course I want to do takes 4 years to complete. So, this is the 3rd year
2023-24 at university. This year I will have a placement in my chosen field of work. I
need to look at bank branches that have corporate finance/investment
sectors in them. This will be my opportunity to put all the theory to practice
and get hands-on experience.

The driving lessons should finish before mid-term this year and hopefully, I
should pass my practical. Once I have done so, I will find myself a car as
that will be useful for me, so that I can cut down on travel costs to and from
placement locations.

This year brings me one step closer to my goal as the placement might be
a stepping stone for me to get a full-time job after I leave university- I may
get offered a role full-time if my skills and expertise are valuable.

Year Five If I wasn’t able to get an offer from my placement bank, I need to actively
2024-25 start looking for potential jobs for as soon as I finish university.
 Once I have graduated, I need to start looking at banks like Barclays,
Natwest, Lloyds and Bank of England who have corporate finance sectors,
if they will take me on, full time.

In the last year of university, I may need to prepare an individual project or

dissertation, portfolio or presentation and then finally graduate!

**Take some time to reflect on the journey till now**

Personal Development Objectives to Meet My Goals

(what do I need to do to get where I want to be?)
My ultimate goal it to become a Managing Director at a bank, it will take me 20 years to
get to that point. To meet my short and medium term goals, I need to stay focussed to
get the grades I need to progress at college and university. As each year goes by as per
my plan, I will get a step closer to my goal. To get my goal, I need to make sure that I
review each year, to make sure I’ve ticked everything off my year’s accomplishments list.

How can others help me accomplish these objectives?

On the journey to my destination, I will meet so many people who will help me reach
there. To achieve my goals, all my tutors at Shipley College enable me to do better
everyday. They are the ones who will be able to help me get into the university of my
choice by looking at my personal statement and helping me achieve the grades I need to
get into them. Furthermore, my placement can help me develop the skills that I need for
a career in Banking and Finance.

What are some educational activities that will help me reach my goals?
Dates
Training or Course Scheduled Completed

BTEC Business Level 3 September 2019 June 2021

Core Maths September 2020 June 2021

Bsc International Banking and Finance September 2021 May 2024

 What are my development areas and my plan to address these areas?

Development Area: Commercial Awareness

Dates
Plan: Scheduled Completed
For a career in banking and finance, one of the most
important skills for me to have and one that employers
look for in candidates is ​commercial awareness.​ I need
to have this skillset because it is important for me to
have an understanding of markets and various clients,
investors and laws to succeed in my role.

● In order to be well skilled in this area, I need to know October ∞

what’s happening in the world and how are markets 2020
beings affected. So, I can start my watching the news
on a daily basis or atleast read-up on events on
alternate days.
● Once I start my placement, I will be able to put this November June
skill to practice. Also, by working in that environment I 2020 2021
will automatically become aware of various clients and
investors and their investments, which will give me an
idea of what to expect when I get into the role.

What are my development areas and my plan to address these areas?

Development Area: Presentation Skills

Dates
Plan: Scheduled Completed
As a banker, presentation skills are very important.
Simply because, I need to have the confidence to present
my idea or strategies to managers, clients, businesses
and customers.

● Most universities involve presentations and working in September May

a group as part of the course. So, this will give me a 2021 2024
chance to develop my presentation skills.
● Confidence helps make the presentations a success October June
and bring out the message clearly. For me to be 2020 2021
confident about my ideas I need to research them well,
which is taught to me at Shipley College, so I will
continue doing that and get better at those skills.
 What are my development areas and my plan to address these areas?

Development Area: Mathematical Expertise

Dates
Plan: Scheduled Completed
There is no doubt of the fact that being good at number
crunching is a must-have skill in the financial sector. I
think I need to develop my theoretical and statistical
knowledge of math. Statistics plays a major role in
analysis, so I need to have that skill.
● I am already studying Core Maths at Shipley College September June
which includes statistical topics which already gives 2020 2021
me the knowledge to understand big data. My plan is
to get a B at Core Maths so that I can be considered
for a place at City, University of London.
● Apart from that, at university some courses have a September May
math module, where they touch upon statistics and 2021 2024
theoretical maths. So, I will be able to learn math skills
there too.

Plan to revisit your plan often to make sure you stay on track and that your goals remain relevant to your
career plan.