Finding a Career What you can do with that shiny new degree!

What You Need to Know About Picking a Career Path  Finding and pursuing your interests  Selecting interesting careers  Research, research, research!  Weighing the positives and negatives  Knowing your strengths and weaknesses  Selecting your path  Knowing when to turn back

Finding Your Interests  A number of ways to explore your options  Pick different types of classes  Get involved in the clubs relating to psychology, HDFS, might learn about a subtopic field  Get involved in research or practice!  Talk to classmates Picture from beach.com/images/gift/college.jpg

Pursuing Your Interest  Find research experience, counseling experience in the field you’re interested in  Talk to professors about research relating to your interests that you find interesting  Read books, articles and other materials to learn more about your interests  Start thinking about careers in your field of interest  This preparation will help you narrow down to a career and will boost your graduate school resume

Research, Research, Research!  Use a job test if you wish; may help you discover something you’ve never heard of  Check out broad categories (ex: social sciences), and look for interesting job descriptions  Or, if you know what interests you, search these sites for those jobs and check the duties and qualifications  Try to find people in those jobs and talk to them about how they got into it, what education they needed, etc.  Start compiling a list of jobs that interest you, education needed, annual salary, etc.  Check the Career Center for additional help!

How to Find Information on Jobs  Job Descriptions (also gives for fast-growing jobs)  Job Descriptions  Job Listings  Job Listings  Job Listings  Salary information for jobs

Weighing the Positives and Negatives  Requires you to know yourself very well  Ask friends and family about your personal qualities if needed  Many factors to consider - Education needed - Locations where most of the jobs are - Personal fit for the job - Whether the job fits with your personal values - Could you see doing this job happily for many years?  Compiling a list of the positives and negatives for each job will help in making in comparison

Knowing Your Strengths and Weaknesses  Obviously, if you are terrified of snakes, a career in herpetology is not for you  Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is essential to selecting a career  Knowing what you can and cannot do will help to weed out careers that would simply not work for you, or you would be unhappy in  Also listing your strengths and weaknesses relative to the task is a good method for comparison

Sample List of Jobs JobDescriptionQualifications Clinical Psychologist - Assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders - Some specialize in severe mental disorders - Others may help people deal with personal issues - Interview patients and give diagnostic tests in their own private offices - Some work in hospitals, some in universities and medical schools Ph.D or Psy.D in psychology (general, counseling or clinical)

Sample List of Jobs JobPositivesNegativesStrength s for Job Weaknesses for Job Clinical Psychologist - Help people - Make own schedule - Specialization creates higher salary and more freedom - Long time for education - Personal and job stress - Possibility of malpractice and other ethical dilemmas - Caring - Works well alone - Good at solving problems - Easy to talk to - Sometimes too caring - Difficult to separate emotions

Selecting Your Path  Next search for job openings  Check online job sites  Check YellowPages and contact potential employers, ask about job openings  Go to Career Fairs before graduation  Visit the Career Center  Network!!! Picture from com/libertinyfinancial3/?p=573

Sites for Finding Jobs  mmunity/jobseekers/11372/open_state_and_loc al_government_career_opportunities/ mmunity/jobseekers/11372/open_state_and_loc al_government_career_opportunities/  (for civil service jobs in Pennsylvania)  service around the country   

Median Salaries of Jobs for HDFS Students  College TA: $14,648  Nursing Home Activities Director: $34,437  Academic Advisor: $40,204  Special Education Teacher: $46,840  Researcher: $47,555  Community Outreach Specialist: $50,254  Social Worker: $53,959  Work/Life Program Manager: $99,718  Human Resources Director: $115,564- $139,594 

Applying to Jobs  The next step after finding jobs is to apply to them  Sometimes need to file an application  Submit a resume with a cover letter (all jobs require this)  Need an interview Picture from cartoons/job+performance/

Creating a Resume  Consider which kind of resume to use*  Chronological resume: Basic, focuses on work experience, reverse-chronological employment history  Functional resume: New, focuses on key skills and less on work experience. Good for new graduates and those with a history of job- hopping  Combination resume: Description of functional skills and qualifications, followed by reverse- chronological employment history  *Taken from letters/resume-writing-tips/is-a-combination-resume-right-for- you/article.aspxhttp://career-advice.monster.com/resumes-cover- letters/resume-writing-tips/is-a-combination-resume-right-for- you/article.aspx

Example of Chronological Resume account-management-sample-resume.pdf

Example of a Functional Resume resumes/functional-resume-example/

Example of a Combination Resume template/

Creating the Resume  For new students, using a functional or combination resume is usually the best option - Highlights key accomplishments and skills, rather than related training and job experience  Certain difficulties with using the functional resume; may be obvious and frustrating to employers to see very little professional experience  Combination resume may be the best option, then, if the applicant has very little professional experience, but some skills

Creating the Resume  Experience is listed in reverse-chronological order (most recent first)  Most important accomplishments are listed, others are disregarded  Only list jobs and experiences related to your intended job  Same with skills, whatever you can relate  Relate each skill and accomplishment to what you can bring to the job and company  Best resume is 1 page, but if necessary, can fit onto two pages  Always have someone read your resume; friends, career center, professors, etc.  Resist the temptation to copy from a template; best resumes are original  You can take examples from example resumes, but formatting should be your own

The Cover Letter  All resumes must have a cover letter!  A cover letter should be short and sweet (2-3 paragraphs)  Covers the essentials of your application  A quick read for employers  If they don’t like it, they’ll move on! Picture from content/uploads/2009/07/resume1.gif

Cover Letter Example administrator-cover-letter-example/

The Interview  Often the scariest part of the job hunt  Must balance professionalism with personal charm  Interviews will be used to weed out potential applicants  Have to present yourself as the strongest candidate while being honest

Typical Interview Questions and Answers  How did you find this position?  Why are you interested in this position?  Why do you feel that you are qualified for this job?  What are some of your positive qualities?  What are some of your negative qualities?  Scenario  Have questions for us?  Easy to answer  Always lead back to how you can benefit job  Again, lead back to benefit. Discuss positive qualities which relate  Do not over exaggerate; be honest with your good qualities  Honestly describe negative qualities in a positive manner and change  What would you do? Ethical issue  ALWAYS have questions: Do your research!

Tips for Interviews  Bring copies of resume and cover letter, pad and paper  Always do research and have questions to ask after the interview  Always shake interviewer’s hand and thank for time  Always dress appropriately  Better to dress up than down  If you must cancel, call ahead of time and reschedule  Show enthusiasm for position  It’s ok to be nervous, you can admit it Picture from content/uploads/2011/07/dos.gif

Any Questions? Original picture from edited from /imagedump/top_40_demotivational_posters.html