Objective 3.01: Understand the decision-making process as a component of career planning.

Steps of the career development cycle Awareness Exploration Planning The best way to approach your career choice is to follow a logical decision-making process.

The Career Plan A step-by-step plan of action including career information influenced by an individual’s ultimate career goal is known as a Career Plan A course of action toward achieving career and educational goals is a career plan. Career plans need to be recorded in writing.

Formal assessments are a critical component of the individual career plan because they are required for graduation and postsecondary entrance. It is important to consider entry-level work experiences as part of the individual career plan because work experiences help connect classroom knowledge with workplace skills.

The first step in reviewing a career plan is to explore career trends and job market data. An individual career plan should be updated annually.

Written Career plans… Having a written career plan: Increases chances of being satisfied with career decisions. Helps assure that students will have better career direction For example, a student who is pursuing a career goal to work in communications should plan for a number of courses in Speech and English

A written career plan is needed: In middle grades. In high school. In college. A career plan for high school ensures that a student will take appropriate courses in high school.

Activities To be included on a career plan: Education and training Extracurricular/volunteer activities Work experience

Extracurricular Activities / Volunteering Experiences can help develop career skills Consider extracurricular/CTSO activities as part of the individual career plan Developing valuable transferable skills. Developing interpersonal skills. Participating in volunteer activities.

Stepping-stone Goal Planning to work as a salesperson before becoming a retail store manager is a Stepping-stone goal.

Ultimate Goals The final result that needs to be arrived at in the process of career planning is called the Ultimate goal. For example, if an ultimate goal is to become a physical therapist, a career plan should include getting a bachelor’s degree.

If your ultimate goal is to become a lawyer, then your career plan should include continuing education beyond a bachelor’s degree.

Once a student’s ultimate career goal is achieved, it is likely that he/she will change jobs and/or careers several times.

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