The last time most of us had any career advice was either at school or university. Discussions were invariably centred on vocational type qualifications and which organisations provided the best graduate training.

We set out on a career path with a clear starting point, a vague mid phase and beyond that usually a complete unknown. Yet promotions follow, headhunters call, offers are accepted and life goes on.

Then at some point, often triggered by a change in personal circumstances, a major birthday or significant external event such as redundancy or restructure, we reach a career crossroads and ask ourselves:

Am I going to continue what I have been doing for the rest of my working life?
Is a change of direction even feasible?
What do I really want to do?
How will I make the transition?
or even How do I get back into the job market, and quickly?

So we must take stock of where we are, think about where we would like to be and figure out what it will take to get there. We need to examine our skills, marketability and personal preferences. We need to decide what to do next and develop a strategy to make it happen.

The question is: Do we try and get through this on our own? Or do we engage experts who will enable us to move forward more quickly and ultimately achieve a better result?