1. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Basic Concepts

2. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Establishing Goals:
Goal
The purpose of any plan or action.
Short-Term Goal
One of a series of accomplishments that add up to a specific achievement.
Long-Term Goal
A goal that has existed over an extended period of time.
Strategy
The decision of how to accomplish an objective.

3. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Establishing Goals:
Planning Goals
The small steps you must take to get from where you are now to where you want to be.
Self Assessment
Profile of your talents, interests, abilities, aptitudes, and experiences.

4. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Why Set Goals?
Goals allow you to arrange a life with a clear purpose and/or destination.
Goals turn dreams into desires so that, with work, you can accomplish something.
Goals allow you to prioritize the responsibilities and obligations in your life and spend your time wisely.
Goals help you set a plan of action that will guide you into a brighter future.

5. Personal Goals and Career Planning
The Process of Establishing a Goal:
Plan
Self-assessment
Develop personal action plan
Research
Career exploration
Review

6. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Benefits of Short-Term Goals:
Divide a long term goal into manageable pieces
Focus energy on smaller, specific steps to achieve a long term goal
Better manage your time
Setting and achieving short-term goals enables you to reach long-term goals
Specific ways to evaluate progress toward a long-term goal

7. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Benefits of Short-Term Goals:
In the evaluation process, if one short-term goal does not work, another can be set without losing sight of the long-term goal

8. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Characteristics of an Effective Goal:
Stated in clear terms
Realistic and believable
You must believe that you can reach the goal
Attainable and Reliable
Must have interests, skills, abilities and strengths to make it happen

9. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Characteristics of an Effective Goal:
Measurable
Goals can be accomplished within a certain time or in a quantity that can be calculated
Desirable

10. Personal Goals and Career Planning
A process in which a student learns about himself/herself, the world of work, and the relationship between the two
Should begin as early as possible
Could change a numerous amount of times

11. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Career Decision Making:
Life-long process
Beliefs, values, skills, aptitudes, interests
Involves your past, present, and future work role
Career plan may change when significant new information, interests, or desires appear

12. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Four Steps for Career Planning:
Self-assessment
Honestly determine talents, interests, skills, values, personality.
Career Exploration
Investigate all career choices, options, and opportunities of interest.
Goal setting
Establish intermediate short-range and long-range goals. Develop a Personal Action Plan,” matching at your own special strengths and weaknesses to the many options and choices of careers.
Evaluation
Periodically evaluate your plan using a time log.

13. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Getting Ready to Join the Workforce:
Identify long-range goal
Set short-term goals
Develop a career plan
Update information from earlier career plans
Create a career portfolio
Collection of information that demonstrates your talents, interests, abilities, achievements, and experiences

14. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Researching a Career:
The best way to learn about a career is by working in it
The more careers you are aware of, the better your chances of finding one that is right for you
Libraries and the Internet are two good places to research careers

15. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Researching a Career:
Consider Working Environment
Indoor vs. outdoor
Sitting vs. standing
Extreme hot vs. cold environment
Consider Desired Lifestyle
Family
Friends
Leisure activities
Spiritual well-being
Career

16. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Job Search Sources:
Internet
Trade Magazines
Friends and family
School counselors and teachers
Private employment agencies
Newspaper advertisements/want ads
Networking
Bulletin boards

17. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Landing a Job
Job Application
Use black ink
Leave no blanks
Keep it neat!

18. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Landing a Job
Letter of Application
This is your best chance to make the case and tell the potential employer why you’re a perfect match for the job. Be specific about how your skill set matches the abilities required for the position, and about why you want the job (and not just “to make money”).

19. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Landing a Job
Resume
Be honest, but not overly modest!
List experiences and personal qualities that would make you a great employee.
No typos or errors in spelling or grammar!

20. Personal Goals and Career Planning
Landing a Job
Job Interview
Most employers choose the best and most qualified candidates for the job but also the most “personable” candidates
Ask questions about the position
Remain confident
Admit your limitations