Career Planning

Objective of the session The purpose of this session is to offer resources and tools to students, that will help them to decide on, prepare for and begin a career in which they can serve as leaders. Conducting Interest Assessments Exploring career opportunities Searching for career experience/internships Preparing for permanent employment after graduation Career Services assists students with all steps of the career planning process including:

DISCOVER YOUR CAREER… Teacher, minister, doctor, real estate, computer programmer, banker, coach, accountant, lawyer, etc.

What is “Career Planning”? What is “Career Planning”? Distilled into big questions… Distilled into big questions… Who are you? Who are you? Where are you now? Where are you now? What do you want? (Develop your …year vision) What do you want? (Develop your …year vision) How can you get there? How can you get there? Career Planning is about: Career Planning is about: Information & Knowledge about Information & Knowledge about Yourself The labour market Opportunities Finding the right match for you Finding the right match for you Being pro-active Being pro-active Making it happen! Making it happen!

What is Career Planning? According to the Thorndike dictionary According to the Thorndike dictionary "A goal that you desire to achieve in a selected field or occupation with a well- thought out plan, to get you there is called Career Planning. "A goal that you desire to achieve in a selected field or occupation with a well- thought out plan, to get you there is called Career Planning.

"Career planning is a lifelong process, which includes choosing an occupation, getting a job, growing in our job, possibly changing careers, and eventually retiring. "Career planning is a lifelong process, which includes choosing an occupation, getting a job, growing in our job, possibly changing careers, and eventually retiring.

“Effective Career Planning “Effective Career Planning is about finding a job that works for you, matching who you are to the life you are going to lead.” (John Lees) is about finding a job that works for you, matching who you are to the life you are going to lead.” (John Lees)

KNOW HOW TO SURVIVE IN A CHANGING ECONOMY Individuals are responsible for their career path.Individuals are responsible for their career path. A college degree does NOT guarantee employment, but it sure helps give options.A college degree does NOT guarantee employment, but it sure helps give options. Individuals must accept risks that accompany employment and plan for the future.Individuals must accept risks that accompany employment and plan for the future. Commitment to lifelong learning will help keep an individual employable.Commitment to lifelong learning will help keep an individual employable.... learning has just begun!

CAREER PLANNING PROCESS Explore self Explore the work world Make decisions & set goals Action Four Step Process:

Explore self Where are you now ? Where are you now ? Draw a symbol or picture Draw a symbol or picture A symbol or picture which represents where you are with your career right now A symbol or picture which represents where you are with your career right now

Explore self Gather information about yourself (self assessment) Gather information about yourself (self assessment)self assessmentself assessment Interests Interests Values Values Roles Roles Skills/Aptitudes Skills/Aptitudes Preferred Environments Preferred Environments Developmental Needs Developmental Needs Your realities Your realities

SIX EASY WORDS TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE FOR CAREER SUCCESS The knowledge to manage your career comes from you (why, who, how) and from an understanding of the career you wish to enter (what, where, when): Why? … identify your goals Who? … network with people How? … learn the skills necessary What? … understand requirements Where? … find out points of entry When? … know when to start looking

CHOOSING A CAREER Individual counseling Advisors, professionals, etc. Career Resource Center Attend Career & Job Fairs Register for the Career & Life Exploration Class

Gathering career information is an important part of the career planning process. This information includes employment outlook, salary, related occupations, education and training, and job duties. Find what you need in these articles, descriptions, and interviews. Exploring Occupations

Make decisions & set goals During this phase of the process, you will: Identify possible occupations Identify possible occupations Evaluate these occupations Evaluate these occupations Explore alternatives Explore alternatives Choose both a short term and a long term option Choose both a short term and a long term option

Action You will develop the steps you need to take in order to reach your goal, for example: You will develop the steps you need to take in order to reach your goal, for example:develop the stepsdevelop the steps Investigating sources of additional training and education, if needed Investigating sources of additional training and education, if neededtraining and educationtraining and education Developing a job search strategy Developing a job search strategy Developing a job search strategy Developing a job search strategy Writing your resume Writing your resume Writing your resume Writing your resume Gathering company information Gathering company information Gathering company information Gathering company information Composing cover letters Composing cover letters Composing cover letters Composing cover letters Preparing for job interviews Preparing for job interviews Preparing for job interviews Preparing for job interviews

JOB SEARCH SKILLS Resume writing Effective interviewing Job search strategies Negotiating

RESUMES & COVER LETTERS Resumes develop first impression. Resumes develop first impression. A sales brochure, a marketing tool, a 30-second commercial advertising a specific product. That product is YOU! A sales brochure, a marketing tool, a 30-second commercial advertising a specific product. That product is YOU! Resumes summarize skills, education, experience and abilities. Try to keep to one page. Resumes summarize skills, education, experience and abilities. Try to keep to one page. Resumes are NOT an autobiography, telling your whole life story on a piece of paper. Resumes are NOT an autobiography, telling your whole life story on a piece of paper. Cover Letters serve as an introduction and should be company specific if possible. Make a connection and grab the attention of the reader. Cover Letters serve as an introduction and should be company specific if possible. Make a connection and grab the attention of the reader.

PARTS OF A RESUME Heading Identification Name, address, phone number and address Objective or Summary Statement Summary of employment desired Education Name of school, type of degree, year of graduation as well as majors and minors Experience List your experience in reverse chronological order— list most recent experience and work backwards. Identify duties and accomplishments. Use ACTION verbs to describe duties and accomplishments. Skills Things you can do that makes you special—using the computer, speaking a foreign language, etc. The skills you list will change depending on job. Key words are important. Activities / Awards / Interests Clubs, volunteer experience, sports... things that show community involvement and leadership skills.

EXAMPLES OF ACTION VERBS Accomplished Accomplished Analyzed Analyzed Achieved Achieved Coordinated Coordinated Contributed Contributed Delegated Delegated Designed Designed Devised Devised Enhanced Enhanced Established Established Formulated Formulated Generated Generated Implemented Implemented Supervised Supervised Trained Trained Researched Researched

A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER... There is no ONE “right way” to write a RESUME — everyone is unique. There is no ONE “right way” to write a RESUME — everyone is unique. Proofread your resume very carefully for grammar, punctuation, and spelling. You do not want ANY mistakes in your resume. Have someone review your resume for mistakes. Proofread your resume very carefully for grammar, punctuation, and spelling. You do not want ANY mistakes in your resume. Have someone review your resume for mistakes.

Get feedback from other people. Make sure that your resume looks good, is easy to understand, and says what you want it to say! Get feedback from other people. Make sure that your resume looks good, is easy to understand, and says what you want it to say! Resume is the marketing tool to get the interview! Resume is the marketing tool to get the interview! Career Services will be happy to critique your resume. Career Services will be happy to critique your resume.

Identifying Career Options Internet Internet Contacts and Networks Contacts and Networks Newspapers and journals Newspapers and journals Professional Associations Professional Associations Careers Centre - career assessment; occupational library; counselling; Internet contacts Careers Centre - career assessment; occupational library; counselling; Internet contacts

Networking An essential ingredient of career success An essential ingredient of career success Identify people within your network Identify people within your network Continually develop and maintain relationships, informally and formally with these people Continually develop and maintain relationships, informally and formally with these people Build your networks particularly in relation to your career goals Build your networks particularly in relation to your career goals

CAREER FAIRS

References /choosingacareer/a/cp_process.htm /choosingacareer/a/cp_process.htm /choosingacareer/a/cp_process.htm /choosingacareer/a/cp_process.htm downloads/0610/NWO_Masterclass_ Care_ED8AC9.ppt downloads/0610/NWO_Masterclass_ Care_ED8AC9.ppt downloads/0610/NWO_Masterclass_ Care_ED8AC9.ppt downloads/0610/NWO_Masterclass_ Care_ED8AC9.ppt