"You need direction and someone else's point of view sometimes, and this helps."

As a mature student you are likely to already have some experience of skills mapping, reflective practice, learning styles, career planning, CV and interview technique. The decision to return to education may have been step one of your career plan. It is still of benefit to continually reassess your goals and adapt your plans accordingly.

Using this guide will help you to pull together all the experience you have accumulated in one place and set new goals for the future. Taking a fresh look at your skills competencies can only increase your confidence.

Some of the examples provided may not seem relevant to your circumstances. You may have work and family responsibilities and no spare time for extracurricular activities. But in analysing your strengths, think laterally: juggling family life and your studies shows commitment, organisation, time-management and adaptability - all important skills. You can illustrate this with examples from your own activities such as helping at playgroup, listening to reading in school or committee work.

Other examples include being treasurer of a local football club, attending night classes, associations with industry, membership of a professional body and voluntary work. If you are a postgraduate don't underestimate the value of activities such as supervising undergraduates, giving demonstrations, invigilating exams or offering tours of the campus.

If you have come back to study to facilitate a change in career, your past work experience may seem irrelevant. Analysing your job roles in terms of key skills will help you to maximise your prior experience and relate it to your chosen field.