On Track - Recognising Prior Learning

So you're taking stock of your life and career and contemplating a new direction or possibly further study. It's important that you assess the skills you already possess and where they might take you. Here's a simple process to help get you started.

What's the difference between formal and informal learning?

Formal learning is certified and awarded (for instance your university degree, professional accreditation or short course certificates), so can be clearly identified.

However, throughout your life you also do a great deal of informal learning. This is demonstrated by what you can do. While these skills may not be documented and may be difficult to evaluate objectively, they can be demonstrated by examples and useful to your career progression. These include qualities like: you are good with people, an excellent problem solver and have a great eye for detail. Such transferable skills are essential components of your career skill set.

What do I do now?

Gathering together this information is the first step in the process of critical reflection. It helps to actually compile a list of your skills, fields of knowledge and personal qualities – on paper, a whiteboard or your computer.

Secondly, for each item, objectively assess the depth of understanding or experience you have. How competent and confident are you with each?

The third step is important and often overlooked. Think about each item and listen to your ‘gut feeling’ or emotional reaction. Recall an incident when you used that skill, and how that makes you feel. Do you get a positive buzz when you think about the time you solved that particularly knotty problem? Does working in a team make you feel happy? Did successfully dissecting financial statements feel like a chore or an achievement? Annotate your list with emoticons or colours or symbols. Your emotional response will help clarify what skill set your ideal work would include.

Finally, step back and look at the bigger picture. What does your work look like now, and what would you like it to look like?

Most career moves are incremental shifts. Very few of us make startlingly abrupt changes. Consider what steps you can take to progress your career in a direction that will increase the proportion of ‘positive’ markers on your list of skills and attributes.

*Airlie Bell, Kate Pardy and Anna Dellow are qualified careers practitioners with extensive experience in delivering career education and student support. Team leader Airlie Bell was recognised by the national body for careers professionals (CDAA) as Careers Practitioner of the Year in 2017.