Welcome! Academic Strategies Unit 8 Seminar

General Questions & Weekly News Please share your weekly news… and general questions.

Weekly Reminders & Announcements Announcements Gradebook Goal: No ZERO’s! Review Syllabus for the two-week Late Policy Communication is KEY

Final Assignment Reminders Unit 8 Seminar: Wednesday, September 19! Unit 7/8 Interview: Tuesday, September 25! Unit 8 Discussion, Web Ex. & Quiz: Tuesday, September 25! Unit 9 Seminar – Last Seminar: Wednesday, September 26! Unit 9 Career Action Plan: Tuesday, October 2! Unit 9 Discussion, Web Ex. & Quiz: Tuesday, October 2! Unit 10 Web Ex.: Tuesday, October 9! Unit 10 Writing Assignment: Tuesday, October 9! Unit 10 Exam: Tuesday, October 9! 310 TOTAL COURSE POINTS REMAINING = 30%

Unit 8 Assignments Complete the Unit 8 Reading & Activities Career Connections *O*Net Online *Career One Stop *America’s Career Infonet *Mind Tools Website *Optimal Resume Attend the Unit 8 Discussion Complete the Unit 8 Web Exploration Complete Unit 7/8 Interview Assignment Complete the Unit 8 Quiz

Career Connections As you plan for your careers or your career changes, there are many steps to keep in mind. Unit 8 is designed to help you with the career planning process by providing you with all kinds of valuable career-related information. Use this week as an opportunity to develop even clearer career goals for yourselves.

Successful Career Planning I. Career goals need to be S.M.A.R.T. II. We need to be motivated to reach our career goals. III. We have to have a clear idea of our own values, interests, strengths and even weaknesses as we set career goals.

S.M.A.R.T. Career Goals Why should career goals be S.M.A.R.T. goals? Specific * Measurable Action-oriented * Realistic * Timed

Motivation What will motivate YOU to complete your degree at Kaplan and reach your career goals?

Strong Self-Awareness Why do you think it will be important for you to have to have a clear idea of your own values, interests, strengths and even weaknesses as you set and strive to reach your career goals.?

What stage are you in with your career planning at this point? Let’s take a poll…

Resources to help YOU! Internet (O*Net) Networking Career One Stop America’s Career Infonet Friends, family members Classifieds KU Career Resources What Else??????

Unit 8 Career Resources O*Net Online: Find Occupations Skills Search Career Skills – Problem Solving Skills: Career One Stop – Pathways to Career Success America’s Career Infonet Optimal Resume Focus2 Career Assessments KU Career Network – KU Campus Page

Focus2 Career Assessments Completing your Foucs2 assessment (found in your online course under “Course Home”) will: Combine your interests, personality traits, values, and skills to generate your profile Identify the major areas of study at Kaplan University that match your profile Capture your results in an online student portfolio

OptimalResume.com Offered in collaboration with KU Career Resources – provides additional help with resumes, cover letters, portfolio building. New user to Optimal Resume? Click on the link to go directly to the Optimal Resume website: Click on the "Never Been Here Before? Create New Account" link and follow the instructions.

KU Career Network The Career Network is located on your KU Campus page. Ongoing Career Discussion Job Postings Career Profile

Let’s Tour the O*Net OnLine MY NEXT MOVE I want to be a... Key Words: “manage an office” SELECT: Compensation & Benefits Managers

Unit 8 ACTION ITEMS! Complete the Focus2 Career Assessment Explore the Optimal Resume tool Explore the KU Career Network Explore the O*Net Online site Explore America’s Career Infonet Explore the Career One Stop site

Critical Element? With all of these amazing resources at your fingertips, there’s still one critical element we haven’t touched on yet. What is that element?

Aim for a Perfect “FIT” The more you understand yourself, your motivations and your values, the better equipped you will be to set career goals that will really "fit" you.

Questions?

The Case of Minh Minh has been working as a retail clerk since high school. She knows the inventory well and likes her boss and the customers who come in regularly to purchase from her. Her income is above minimum wage and is almost enough to cover the cost of living, so she has been rather satisfied - until recently. You see, Minh is planning to get married next year. She knows that this life change means her responsibilities will increase, and so she has chosen to go to college and increase her job prospects as well. She has chosen Business as her major. The first term has been going well, but in week 8, Minh's boss asks her to work extra hours.

REFLECT How is Minh's current job beneficial to her ultimate career goals? How would setting more specific career goals help Minh make decisions? How might some of the career-related resources and activities from Unit 8 help Minh to make sound career choices? Which resources do you think she will benefit from most and why? What general advice would you give Minh to encourage her to complete the quarter and continue in school?

Goal-setting & Change Sometimes, no matter how much critical thinking we use, we end up deciding that we have set the wrong goals for ourselves. What should you do if this happens?

RETHINK!!!!! REEVALUATE!!! MODIFY!!! = Critical Thinking!!!

Ongoing Process of Change The whole process of career planning should involve change. The more you learn about yourself and your strengths, the more changes you should make.

“CHANGE is essential. This is where I am--- this is where I want or need to be. What ACTION am I willing to take to reach that point? Take time to assess and make adjustments to strategies and goals." SOURCE: Adapted from: Sowing the Seeds of Success, A Learning Activities Handbook, compiled and edited by Suzanne Skinner and Carolyn DeLecour; Ellis,Dave, The Master Student, 1985, and Judson, The Search for Solutions, 1980.

Don't be afraid to change and grow. Think of yourself as a WORK IN PROGRESS!!

Final Questions? Thanks for attending…