Planful Career Decision Making Jim Peacock, Director of the Advising, Career, and Transfer (ACT) Center Kennebec Valley Community College

Identify the three steps of “Planful Career Decision Making” Identify personal preferences and skills utilizing the Holland tool Apply the Holland types to career selection Utilize career related web resources to research information related to career choice Identify career related resources at KVCC Learning Outcomes

THE Common Question What do you want to be when you grow up? What do you want to be when you grow up? *this is the wrong question *this is the wrong question

Here is a better question… What occupation do I want to do for the next 5 to 10 years? What occupation do I want to do for the next 5 to 10 years?

Steps in Planful Decision Making Planful Decision Making Planful Decision Making 1. Learn About Yourself (interest, temperament, values) 2. Quality Research (using quality resources) how these traits match with occupations. a) Read b) Watch c) Talk d) Take a class e) Volunteer or work in 3. Make a Plan

Step 1 Learn about yourself Learn about yourself Holland Interest Assessment Holland Interest Assessment The most used theory for Interests The most used theory for Interests A very simple assessment can be found on KVCC career website A very simple assessment can be found on KVCC career website Go to “How to Choose A Major at KVCC” link Go to “How to Choose A Major at KVCC” link What is your TOP Holland code? What is your TOP Holland code? Do you have two that are most like you? Do you have two that are most like you?

Holland Interest NOTE: this simple assessment is for those people who want to major at KV. NOTE: this simple assessment is for those people who want to major at KV. If you would like an Interest Assessment that is includes other majors / occupations, consider taking the Career Decision Making at KVCC 1 credit Pass/ Fail class CdM 010 on the schedule See Jim Peacock

Holland Codes Ê Realistic - work with hands, tools, equipment and see tangible results; prefer to work alone Ë Investigative - work with science, math, abstract thinking, ideas; prefer to work alone Ì Artistic - work with art, music, words to express self creatively; like to entertain

Holland Codes Í Social - work face-to-face with people to help, teach, counsel; high value on verbal skills Î Enterprising - work face-to-face with people to sell, lead, manage; high value on influencing others Ï Conventional - work with data, numbers, records to keep them orderly

Step 2 Quality Research Quality Research Occupational Outlook Handbook Great site for occupational information. Make sure you check out the RELATED OCCUPATIONS! Occupational Outlook Handbook Great site for occupational information. Make sure you check out the RELATED OCCUPATIONS! America’s Career Info Net. Has over 450 career videos; fastest growing jobs; wages, and piles of other occupational information. America’s Career Info Net. Has over 450 career videos; fastest growing jobs; wages, and piles of other occupational information. Occupational Outlook Quarterly - articles Occupational Outlook Quarterly - articles O*Net. Government website with tons of information regarding specific occupations. O*Net. Government website with tons of information regarding specific occupations.

Step 3 Make a Plan Make a Plan Keep it short, maybe 5 years out for most people. Keep it short, maybe 5 years out for most people. Be specific as you can Be specific as you can

Example of a specific goal / plan By June 2015, I want to be employed by a local medical center as an emergency room nurse. By June 2015, I want to be employed by a local medical center as an emergency room nurse. I plan to begin the Nursing program at KVCC September I plan to begin the Nursing program at KVCC September I will apply to the nursing program at KVCC and complete all requirements for admissions by December I will apply to the nursing program at KVCC and complete all requirements for admissions by December 2011.

Curiosity, flexibility, risk All the planning in the world can not replace: All the planning in the world can not replace: Curiosity to discover new opportunities Curiosity to discover new opportunities The flexibility to consider something new The flexibility to consider something new Risk taking attitude Risk taking attitude Because we all have influences / obstacles in our lives that we must deal with. Because we all have influences / obstacles in our lives that we must deal with.

Career choices are influenced by many things: Parents Parents Social & environmental Social & environmental Gender Gender Age Age Interests Interests Abilities Abilities Geography Geography Luck / chance Luck / chance

CREATE OPPORTUNITY “Unplanned events are not only inevitable, but they are desirable” Krumboltz “Unplanned events are not only inevitable, but they are desirable” Krumboltz Get involved with an activity of interest you just might: Get involved with an activity of interest you just might: - meet other people w/similar interest - meet other people w/similar interest - maybe one of them is making a living in a related occupation - maybe one of them is making a living in a related occupation

Take action Volunteer Volunteer Internships Internships Part time job Part time job Try a class Try a class Summer jobs Summer jobs DO SOMETHING! DO SOMETHING!

At some point…. ….you have to walk to the end of the high board and make your best guess at what you want. ….you have to walk to the end of the high board and make your best guess at what you want. Do this AFTER you have completed quality research. Do this AFTER you have completed quality research. Remember: What do you want to do for the next 5-10 years? (NOT the rest of your life!) Remember: What do you want to do for the next 5-10 years? (NOT the rest of your life!) Want more help? Take Career Decision Making CDM 010 Want more help? Take Career Decision Making CDM 010

Thank you. Jim Peacock Advising, Career, and Transfer (ACT) Center Director Frye Building Enrollment Center Room 107 Kennebec Valley Community College Fairfield, ME