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Whether you want to progress, change roles, or learn something new, there are lots of ways to develop your career.

This page outlines practical steps you can take to get started.

If you're feeling stuck, bored, or ready for a change, don't wait for opportunities to come to you. Small but proactive steps can make a big difference.

Try to:

• Think about what you enjoy and what you'd like to do more of.
• Look for opportunities to learn new skills.
• Ask questions and speak to people in roles that interest you.
• Be open to trying something new.
• Keep going, even if things don't work out first time.

Set aside some time every few months to think about your next steps.

Ask yourself:

• What do I enjoy most about my work?
• What would I like to learn?
• Where would I like to be in 2-3 years?
• What can I do this month to move closer to that goal?

Examples of possible actions:

• Research a course or apprenticeship.
• Find and complete online learning 
• Speak to your manager about development opportunities and document this in your 121.
• Attend a recruitment event or careers fair.
• Explore volunteer opportunities that would give you useful experience.
• Set yourself one achievable goal and a deadline.

Take time to research the sorts of roles, clinical settings, patient groups, or industries you鈥檙e interested in. 

There's lots of information about different pathways and roles within the RCN's Nursing Support Workforce careers resource. This includes information on how to change/progress to

• Nursing Associate
• Assistant Practitioner
• Cancer navigator
• Community Associate Practitioner
• Research Practitioner
• Training Lead

It also has advice on changing care setting, apprenticeship routes, and pathways to become a registered nurse.

Other sources to help you carry out research include:

• Joining professional RCN forums and networks of relevance/interest
• Speaking to your employer or local RCN learning rep if you have one in your workplace
• Using your network and speaking to peers
• Joining the RCN's
• Exploring career frameworks or skills frameworks (E.g. see the Core Skills Training Framework on the Skills for Health website )
• Searching the internet and/or job search websites
• Reading relevant journals or publications

The RCN Careers Service offers advice (including samples and tutorials) on writing

• CVs
• covering letters
• supporting statements (for NHS applications)

Refresh your CV

Updating your CV can boost your confidence, reminding you of how much you've achieved, and help you recognise the skills and experience you already have.

Application feedback

RCN members can request personalised feedback and advice on their CV, covering letter and/or supporting statements from the RCN Careers Team. See the CV writing page or job application page for more details.

Interview coaching

RCN Careers also offers free interview coaching over the telephone with a Careers Coach.

It may not have occurred to you that you could arrange an informal visit with a prospective employer, but this practice is actually very common within the healthcare industry. 

It's a great way to gain insight into a new workplace environment and assess whether you think that environment would be right for you. It's also another opportunity to make new contacts, ask questions, and make a good impression.

Further tips:

• Be specific about which particular area or setting you'd want to visit and/or any people you'd want to spend time with
• Research the employer and setting well before you go
• Prepare in advance some questions to ask or points to talk about during your visit
• If applying for jobs afterwards, reference your visit in your covering letter or job application. Explain why you liked it there or what impressed you
• See our advice page on informal visits

Take the initiative and seek out shadowing opportunities at your workplace. Explain to your manager why you think the shadowing could improve or enhance your practice or knowledge in your current post.

You could also consider contacting external organisations such as hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, GP surgeries, charities, or your local council. It's a great way to learn, gain experience, try out a different role, and make contacts; all of which could potentially open up new doors for you.

Ideally you can arrange shadowing within working time. However if this isn鈥檛 possible, you can still arrange shadowing in your own time. It could really pay off in the long term and help you progress.

Volunteering can help you gain new experience and skills. Any training needed to do the job should be free, and you may only need to spare as little as an hour a month.

For example:

• You want to work in end of life care but have no experience. Volunteering for a local hospice or charity could help you bridge that gap.
• You want to apply for hospital based jobs, but have no UK hospital experience. You can volunteer with your local hospital in roles such as 'befriender volunteer,' 'ward volunteer,' or 'mealtime volunteer.'
• You currently work with adults but want to work with children. You could volunteer with a charity that involves mentoring young children, or a charity such as the NSPCC.

You can read more about volunteering to learn new skills here.

Networking is a crucial part of career progression, so have a think about how you can do this. You could:

• Attend events, job fairs, conferences, RCN congress, local groups and recruitment open days.
• Create a account and reach out to other healthcare professionals or employers
• Get involved with RCN campaigns, RCN forums, RCN Facebook pages, or RCN bluesky pages
• Attend your next local RCN branch meeting

When you do network with others, make sure you make a record of their contact details and ask them if you can get in touch for advice in the future.

Put some time aside well in advance of your next 121 or appraisal to think about which development opportunities you can discuss with your manager.

This is a perfect time for you to agree on some goals. If you have specified that you want to do something in your 121 or appraisal, you are more likely to be considered for any subsequent opportunities should they arise. Ideas include asking to:

• Take on more responsibility
• Be involved in training staff / be involved with inductions
• Discussing study days
• Shadowing other colleagues / units / departments / workplaces
• Agree time off for study / training / volunteering
• Be involved in project work

Make sure you research the job market in your target field/role. Look at vacancies on job websites and sign up to receive alerts from websites, agencies and specific employers.

Try to identify:

• What jobs are out there at the level you want?
• Which roles are in demand in your area?
• What sort of experience, skills or qualifications are required?
• Which employers will be running apprenticeship or training programmes and when?

Speaking to employers, recruitment agencies and nursing agencies can also be a good idea; they might be able to offer you information about the current job market specific to your area.

If you see a vacancy you're interested in but don't feel confident enough to apply, contact the hiring manager for a chat about the role. This is an excellent way to stand out from the other candidates, find out more about the role, and assess whether or not it would suit you.