Charting your journey to success

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 TRIDENT
This Planning Record form is designed to be a written record of one-to-one careers/university meetings,
as well as a progress tracker on your journey towards application and (hopefully) acceptance. It allows
you to review and reflect upon the key points raised during our discussion, and provides you with
prompts for your own completion through careful thought and research.

COLLEGE
Please be aware that your counsellor may upload key information to EdAdmin and/or Unifrog to further
assist in the planning and record-keeping process. This information will not be of a sensitive nature.

ENGAGE.
You WILL NOTENLIGHTEN. EMPOWER
cover all the questions on this document during your counselling interview. Your
counsellor will tailor the discussion based on the evidence and discussion points you raise.

You must come to this meeting with the right attitude. You should be prepared, and have read the
documentation we share, utilised the software we suggest, and conducted your own research.

Thinking about the future can be scary, and some pupils prefer not to contemplate it. But it is happening
whether you like it or not, and the only way to beat the anxiety and embrace your future is to take
ownership. Our counsellors are here to help, guide and support- they are not here to do the whole process
for you. It is your future- own it!

- The Trident College 6th Form Team

Discussion point Notes Action required

University and
Getting to Know You
Do you have any initial thoughts
on your future? Any career you
are 100% focused on?
What are your hobbies, passions,
and extra-curricular interests?

Career Planning
If you had one perfect day, what
would you do?
Tell me about your family
background.
What do your parents do for

Record
work?
What about your cultural
background? Religious,
conservative, liberal,
international, local, well-travelled
etc.
What do your parents want for
your future? How important is
their input to you in terms of your
decisions about your future?
Have you thought about the
financial aspects of pursuing
higher education?
Tell me about the family
financial situation. Are you
likely to need a
scholarship/bursary or
sponsorship to attend further
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 education or career training?

Are there any other personal

circumstances I need to know
about that may impact on your
future choices?
Academic Experience Thus Far
Confirm your subjects studied
(last year and this year)
What subjects are you
considering taking through to A-
Level (if applicable)
How have you performed in
those subjects? What are your
strengths and areas for
improvement?
Has your performance shaped or
affected any thoughts you have
about careers in the future?
What subjects do you prefer?
Have you given any thought as to
potential majors to study at uni
in these areas?
What topics you have studied
really spark your imagination?
The GOAL: Your Career Plans
Where do you see yourself in 5 to
10 years’ time in terms of your
career and personal life?
How do you envision your ideal
future?
Do you have any specific
aspirations for the future not
related to your work and career?
Travel, making discoveries,
starting a family, public service?
Are you open to working in a
different country, or do you
wish to remain close to home?
How important is location in
assessing potential job prospects?
Are you more inclined towards
practical, hands on learning, or do
you prefer theoretical
approaches?
Have you researched careers and
industries? What were your
findings?
Have you completed any interest
inventories, personality
assessments or other diagnostic
tools on Unifrog or elsewhere?

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 What are your thoughts on
pursuing alternative pathways,
like vocational training,
apprenticeships, or other non-
traditional routes?
Have you considered gaining
work experience before pursuing
further education?
Have you a preference for
working in a larger or smaller
company? Why?
What kind of working
environment do you think would
be best suited to your
professional growth and
development?
Have you considered informal
interviews or networking with
professionals in your area of
interest?
What are your back up plans if
your first-choice career option
doesn’t happen immediately?
How flexible are you in adjusting
your plans based on unforeseen
circumstances?
What have you learned about
yourself throughout this
exploration process?
How confident do you feel in
making decisions about your
future career?
What immediate next steps do
you plan to take in your career
exploration journey?
Are there any specific resources
or support systems you think
would be beneficial moving
forward?
The JOURNEY: Further Education towards Your Dream Career
Given your planned career, have
you researched the industry
expectations of education level,
fields of study and additional
requirements?
Are you leaning towards
pursuing traditional university
education, vocational training, or
another form of further
education?
What factors are most important
to you when considering further
education options?
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 Are you seeking to study
abroad, and if so, where and
why?
Are you seeking to study within
Zambia, and if so, where and
why?
Do you have a preference for a
large university or college, or a
smaller, more intimate
environment?
Do you prefer a large city, or a
more rural setting?
Have you used the Unifrog tools
to support your further education
planning (review with counsellor)
Have you read our guides to
further study in various
destinations?
If you have a particular
university/college/training
institute in mind, what have you
been able to find out about it
from the website/FB groups etc.?
Do you intend to apply for
scholarships to aid your studies?
Have you researched financial
aid options and scholarships
available to you?
STEM Specific Questions
Are you interested in pursuing a
career in STEM related fields?
Can you identify which aspect of
STEM is most appealing to you?
Are there any developments
within STEM globally that you
find particularly interesting and
intriguing? Projects, newsworthy
stories etc.?
How do you see your chosen
STEM field developing over the
next 5-10 years? How might this
affect your destination, course
and Major choices?
Have you identified potential
apprenticeships, industry
partnerships or co-op
programmes in STEM within
Zambia or abroad?
What emerging trends or
advancements in STEM are you
most excited about?
How might these trends influence
your career choices within
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 STEM?
Have you sought out STEM
mentorship either within Trident
college or further afield to help
you understand the potential
pathways?
How do you plan to balance your
passion for STEM with job
market demands and a changing
job-market?
Have you considered
interdisciplinary approaches
within STEM?
Are you currently involved in any
STEM related extra-curricular
projects or initiatives?
How might these contribute to a
particular pathway within
STEM?
Goal Setting and Planning
After discussion and extensive
research, my CAREER GOAL
IS:
To achieve this goal, I have
chosen to pursue the following
PATHWAY:
To achieve this goal, my next
five steps are:
1. Pupil Profile enhancement I will... Deadline
activities
2. College/University and I will... Deadline
pathway research
3. Academic target setting I will... Deadline
4. Financial Aid/Scholarship I will... Deadline
Research
5. Personal Development I will... Deadline
Goal
Skills Development
What steps are you taking to stay
up to date on the latest
developments in your chosen
industry?
Hard Skills (HS): Have you
identified any courses,
workshops, MOOCS or other
external research tasks that can
support your skills development
for your chosen industry (CI)?
(HS) What technical skills are
required for your CI, and how are
you working to develop them?
(HS) Are there specific software

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 or tools commonly used in your
CI that you need to master?
(HS) How do you plan and
organise your tasks to meet your
deadlines effectively?
(HS) Have you sought out
opportunities to lead or
contribute to projects or
initiatives related to your chosen
career?
(HS) Can you provide examples
of how you have applied
research skills to solve problems
or make informed decisions?
(HS) In your chosen field, how
important is language
proficiency or coding expertise?
(HS) What steps are you taking to
enhance your proficiency in
these areas?
(HS) Are there specific
qualifications, certifications or
skills that would boost your
employability/application in this
CI?
(HS) Have you considered
pursuing additional
qualifications to stand out in the
job market?
SOFT SKILLS (SS): How will
you adapt your communication
style to different contexts within
your CI?
(SS) How do you approach team
work and what strategies do you
use to contribute effectively to
group projects?
(SS) How do you handle
unexpected challenges or
changes in your personal or
academic life?
(SS) Describe your approach to
problem solving. How do you
analyse problems and generate
solutions?
(SS) In what ways have you
demonstrated leadership qualities,
either in school or in extra-
curricular activities?
(SS) How do you inspire and
motivate others to achieve
common goals?
(SS) How do you prioritise tasks
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 and manage your time
efficiently, especially when faced
with multiple deadlines?
(SS) How comfortable are you
with networking, and have you
engaged with professionals in
your CI?
(SS) How do you navigate inter-
personal relationships,
particularly in high-pressure
situations?
(SS) How do you approach
critical thinking, particularly in
the context of your chosen
industry?
(SS) Are you familiar with
professional etiquette within
your chosen industry?
(SS) How do you cultivate a
mindset of continuous learning,
self-reflection and skill
improvement?
CLOSING: Based on our
discussion, which skills do you
believe are your strengths?
Based on our discussion, which
skills do you believe are your
areas for improvement?
What action steps can you take
to continue developing your skills
in preparation for your chosen
career?
Researching Institutions for Career Suitability
Can you find and analyse success
stories of alumni from each
institution who pursued careers
similar to your aspirations?
What insights can you gain from
their experiences and
achievements?
How well-connected is each
institution to industries relevant
to your chosen career?
Have you looked into
partnerships, internships, or
networking opportunities they
offer with companies in your
field?
What is the expertise and
background of the faculty
members in your department of
interest?

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 How might their experience
contribute to your learning and
career development?
How does each institution
support students in securing
internships or work placements?
Can you find information on the
success rates of students
securing internships related to
your field?
What career services does each
institution provide to support
your transition from education to
employment?
Have you explored job
placement rates, career
counselling services, and alumni
mentorship programs?
How accessible are research
opportunities for undergraduate
students at each institution?

Have you considered how

involvement in research projects
might contribute to your
academic and career goals?
Does each institution offer study
abroad or exchange programs
that align with your career
aspirations?
How might global experiences
enhance your understanding of
your chosen field?

Have you reviewed the

accreditation status and
rankings of each institution and
their programs?

How do these factors contribute

to the credibility and quality of
education in your chosen field?

Longlisting and Shortlisting University and College Choices

How does each college or
university on your list align with
your chosen career goals?
Have you identified specific
programs or majors that cater to
your career aspirations?
What factors are important to you

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 when considering the location of
a college or university?
Have you researched the
industries and job opportunities
in the regions where your
shortlisted institutions are
located?
How would you describe the
campus culture and atmosphere
of each institution?
What aspects of the campus
environment are most important
to you for a positive learning
experience?
How do class sizes and teaching
styles vary among your
shortlisted institutions?
Have you considered your
preferred learning environment
and how it aligns with each
institution's teaching methods?
What specific facilities and
resources does each institution
offer for your chosen field of
study?
How might these resources
contribute to your academic and
professional development?
What extracurricular activities
or clubs does each institution
provide that align with your
interests?
Have you considered how
involvement in these activities
might enhance your overall
college experience?
How do the tuition fees, living
costs, and potential financial aid
options compare among your
shortlisted institutions?
Have you explored scholarship
opportunities specific to your
field of study at each institution?
Shortlisted Choices University/College Course(s)
Reach Choice 1
Reach Choice 2
Secure Choice 1
Secure Choice 2
Secure Choice 3
Back Up Choice 1
Back Up Choice 2
Alternative Pathway 1
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 Alternative Pathway 2
Application Process
Have you researched everything
you can on your chosen
institutions? Is this information
carefully stored and catalogued
for later review?
Are you aware of the application
timelines for your chosen
institutions?
How will you manage the
different deadlines for each
region? (Timeline creation, mind
map, spreadsheet etc.)
Have you identified any
standardised tests required by
the different institutions?
Have you considered application
enhancement tests, such as
language proficiency tests, which
will compliment your
application?
What is your plan for taking and
preparing for these assessments?
Do you know how to sign up in
Zambia?
Do you have a plan for
scholarships/financial aid and
know how to apply at the time of
your general application? These
cannot be applied for later.
Do you know if you are required
to apply directly to your choices
or use a centralised application
system?
Have you created your accounts
on the relevant application
portals for your institution
choices?
Are you aware of the reference
letter requirements for your
choices? Who should write them,
what they should contain, are
they submitted by email or do
you have to send a link to a
portal?
Have you approached your
reference writer(s) and given
them plenty of time to complete
the task?
Has your reference writer
submitted their reference to one
of the careers team for checking?
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 Have you thanked your reference
writer personally?
Have you asked the school for
your formal transcript or any
other documents required in
your applications?
Do you have the necessary proof
of identity documents that may
be required at the application
stage?
Are you aware of the fees
involved in application and do
you have the money in place to
pay them?
Have you submitted your
application in full with all
supporting documents, and paid
the associated application fees?
Are you prepared for any follow
up elements post application, e.g.
interview? Have you prepared
and practised your interview
technique?
Have you received a
confirmation from your
institution that your application
has been received?
Are you aware of the timeline for
decisions and how and where to
check when decisions are
published?
Do you know how to
accept/reject an offer once it is
made and how much time the
university gives you to do so?
Have you researched your next
steps once you have made your
final choice of destination?
Country specific Application Processes
Are you clear on the U.K.
UCAS application process and
timeline?
Are you comfortable with
the requirements of the UCAS
personal statement essay? Have
you begun to write yours?
Are you clear on the U.S.
Common App process and
timeline?
Are you clear on the nature
of a U.S. application essay and

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 able to craft a compelling
personal response?
Have you checked the
SAT/ACT requirements for
your chosen universities?
How does the application
process differ across European
countries?
Are you clear on the
specific requirements for your
European universities of choice?
Have you double-checked
the language requirements for
each course?
Are you aware of any extra
entrance requirements or
portfolio submissions for your
European universities?
Have you started
researching the visa application
process for the country you wish
to enter?
Are you clear on the
application timeline for your
Zambian universities? (Early for
January start)
Have you checked the
specific entry requirements for
your courses?
Have you checked the
timeline for application? (Early
for January start)
Have you checked any
specific entry requirements for
your uni (citizenship proof; dual
language proficiency proof etc.)

Alternative Pathways
Identifying Options
What are your strengths,
interests, and skills that you
would like to leverage in your
future career?
Are there specific industries or
job roles that align with your
passions?
Have you explored different
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 industries to understand their
growth, demands, and potential
for career advancement?
What industries seem intriguing
to you, and why?
What practical skills do you
currently possess, and which ones
would you like to develop
further?
How might these skills align with
potential career pathways?
Vocational Training and Apprenticeships
What vocational training
options are available in your area
or fields of interest?
Have you looked into the specific
skills and qualifications offered
by vocational training programs?
Have you researched
apprenticeship programs in
industries that interest you?
How do you envision the
apprenticeship experience
contributing to your skill
development?
How can you connect with
professionals in vocational fields
or apprenticeship programs?
Are there local events, career
fairs, or online platforms where
you can seek advice and
information?
Are there industries offering co-
op programmes that align with
your career goals? What
educational institutions do they
partner with?
How do you see a co-op program
benefiting your understanding of
the industry and potential
employment prospects?
Pursuing Direct Employment
What entry-level positions are
available in industries you find
interesting?
Have you explored job
descriptions and qualifications
required for these positions?
How can you tailor your resume
to highlight your relevant skills
and experiences?
Have you sought guidance on
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 creating a compelling resume
from your school's career services
or professionals in the field?
Have you considered networking
as a strategy for accessing job
opportunities?
How can you leverage your
existing network or expand it to
increase your chances of finding
employment?
Are you familiar with online job
platforms where employers post
entry-level positions?
How can you optimize your
profiles on these platforms to
attract potential employers?
Developing a Systematic Approach
What short-term goals can you
set to progress toward your
chosen pathway?
How will achieving these goals
contribute to your overall career
plan?
How can you create a timeline
that outlines specific actions and
milestones for the next 6 months
or year?
What steps will you take each
month to stay on track?
Have you reached out to career
counselors, teachers, or
professionals for advice on your
chosen pathway?
How can mentors and
professionals in your community
support your career exploration?
Decision-making
How will you weigh the pros and
cons of each pathway to make an
informed decision?
What criteria are most important
to you when evaluating potential
career options?
How open are you to adjusting
your career plan based on new
opportunities and experiences?
What strategies can you employ
to stay adaptable in a rapidly
changing job market?
How will you track your
progress toward your goals and
adjust your plan accordingly?
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 What indicators will signify
success in your chosen pathway?
What are your 5 immediate next
steps to seeking employment and
professional development?
1
2
3
4
5

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 Additional Notes:

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