Don't be afraid to reach out to people and ask silly questions or want to know more about their role etc. People are always willing to help and therefore don't be shy to ask for it. Having a strong network will not only help in terms of understanding the wider business and can provide you with people to rely on when you need support; but it will also open up new opportunities that may not have been possible. Also be clear on what kind of roles you enjoy (make take time to figure out) - but understand what gets you out of bed in the morning and then look for roles that have these aspects as part of them. And definitely don't expect to have a lot of the requirements on job descriptions - do not let this put you off applying. After all, if you had all the list, arguably you shouldn't be applying! The point is to show your transferable skills to the role and willingness to learn, and you should then have opportunities in the role to develop particular skills.

Its important to have a career plan, break it down into chunks e.g. next 12 months, 2-5 years then 5 years plus. Make the right people aware of this plan. After all how can the leadership team support you if they dont know your aspirations? Then its important to understand what skills are needed to make the next move. Breadth moves are very usefully as it expands your overall knowledge which ultimately helps with career development. With all this in mind its also important to be flexible and adaptable. Seek out advice from senior peers who would have probably been in a similar situation in the past.

I joined the company without too much expectation and not ambitious. However my skill sets have been recognised, I have been supported and encouraged to share my achievements for best practice and to help others. I feel valued and engaged with both my colleagues and managers and enjoy the interaction with people of diversity of age, social and wide ranging backgrounds. It's all about collaboration and working together and any competition is for fun but with rewards.