Choosing a CareerChoosing a Career

Rule#1Rule#1: : Choose a career that is something Choose a career that is something

you really like to do.you really like to do.

Rule#2Rule#2: : Do your research and choose Do your research and choose carefully and thoughtfully.carefully and thoughtfully.

Rule#3Rule#3: : Make it meaningful to Make it meaningful to you.you.

One of the hardest—and most excit ing—choices you’l l ever make is your career. Although chance may play a part, come

prepared!

You owe it to yourself to look for work that is meaningful and rewarding!

Choose Career Options That Choose Career Options That Match Your ValuesMatch Your Values

Knowing what you value most will help Knowing what you value most will help you refine your career search and choice:you refine your career search and choice: Helping othersHelping others PrestigePrestige High incomeHigh income Flexible work hoursFlexible work hours

Establish and align values, career choice, Establish and align values, career choice, and career goals for motivation.and career goals for motivation.

Surviving in a Fast EconomySurviving in a Fast Economy You will always have some control over You will always have some control over

your career.your career. You must accept risks and plan for the You must accept risks and plan for the

future to advance your career.future to advance your career. A college degree does not guarantee A college degree does not guarantee

employment.employment. A commitment to lifelong learning will A commitment to lifelong learning will

help keep you employable.help keep you employable.

Factors to ConsiderFactors to Consider

Do:Do: explore a number of explore a number of

careers and majorscareers and majors get involved get involved Get advice from Get advice from

people in your people in your target occupationtarget occupation

follow your passionfollow your passion Dare to try Dare to try

something newsomething new

Don’t:Don’t: focus on a major focus on a major

just to get a career just to get a career out of itout of it

select a major just select a major just because it is “cool” because it is “cool” or seems to promise or seems to promise prestigeprestige

let someone else let someone else push you into a jobpush you into a job

Assume that you Assume that you have it all figured have it all figured outout

Factors Affecting Career ChoicesFactors Affecting Career Choices

InterestsInterestsSkillsSkillsAptitudesAptitudesPeople skillsPeople skillsExperienceExperienceFamily Family

traditionstraditions

PersonalityPersonalityLife goals Life goals

and work and work valuesvalues

Exploring Your InterestsExploring Your InterestsHolland’s Hexagonal Model of Career FieldsHolland’s Hexagonal Model of Career Fields

Investigative

Artistic

Social

Realistic

Conventional

Enterprising

Where to Go for HelpWhere to Go for Help Career centerCareer center FacultyFaculty Upper-class Upper-class

studentsstudents Student Student

organizationsorganizations Placement Placement

servicesservices

Become Knowledgeable Become Knowledgeable About CareersAbout Careers

Explore the Explore the Occupational Outlook Handbook Occupational Outlook Handbook at at http://www.bls.gov/oco/http://www.bls.gov/oco/

Research several careers, not just oneResearch several careers, not just one Browse the Careers section of a local bookstoreBrowse the Careers section of a local bookstore See a career counselorSee a career counselor Scope out Internet resourcesScope out Internet resources Network--many people love to talk aboutNetwork--many people love to talk about

their jobs!their jobs!

Explore the Explore the Occupational Outlook HandbookOccupational Outlook Handbookhttp://www.bls.gov/oco/http://www.bls.gov/oco/

Keep up with the occupational Keep up with the occupational outlook for various fields.outlook for various fields.

Get to know which ones are Get to know which ones are adding jobs and which ones adding jobs and which ones are losing them.are losing them.

The Occupational Outlook The Occupational Outlook HandbookHandbook is an excellent is an excellent source, and is updated every source, and is updated every two years.two years.

Good news!Good news! Over the next few Over the next few years, jobs requiring college years, jobs requiring college degrees will be the fastest-degrees will be the fastest-growing and highest payinggrowing and highest paying ..

What to Look for in a What to Look for in a CareerCareer

Major career field targetMajor career field target Preferred type of workPreferred type of work Income requirementsIncome requirements Geographical requirementsGeographical requirements Special needsSpecial needs Industry preferencesIndustry preferences Stress levelStress level Level of interaction with other Level of interaction with other

peoplepeople Indoor vs. outdoorIndoor vs. outdoor Amount of independenceAmount of independence Balance between creative and Balance between creative and

conventional tasksconventional tasks

The type of people you would The type of people you would interact withinteract with

Physical requirementsPhysical requirements Local/national/international Local/national/international

organizationorganization Benefits and perksBenefits and perks Advancement opportunitiesAdvancement opportunities A good bossA good boss TrainingTraining Industry outlookIndustry outlook Reputation of the firm in the Reputation of the firm in the

industryindustry

Select Several Careers,Select Several Careers,Not Just OneNot Just One

It’s a good idea to have several careers in mind It’s a good idea to have several careers in mind rather than just one in your first year of college.rather than just one in your first year of college.

Approximately 60% of students change their Approximately 60% of students change their major at some point during their college career.major at some point during their college career.

It pays to be knowledgeable about more than It pays to be knowledgeable about more than just one career field. The average graduate just one career field. The average graduate changes their job seven times in their life.changes their job seven times in their life.

It also pays to develop a wide variety of general It also pays to develop a wide variety of general skills, particular those related to communication.skills, particular those related to communication.

NetworkNetwork Check with people you know about career Check with people you know about career

information.information. Networking can lead to meeting someone Networking can lead to meeting someone

who may be able to answer your questions who may be able to answer your questions about a specific career or company.about a specific career or company.

It is an effective way to learn about the type It is an effective way to learn about the type of training necessary for a particular of training necessary for a particular position, what it took to get into the field, and position, what it took to get into the field, and the positive and negative aspects of the the positive and negative aspects of the work.work.

More andMore and more professionals are active on more professionals are active on online networks such as LinkedIn.com and online networks such as LinkedIn.com and Doostang.com. Some professionals even Doostang.com. Some professionals even use Facebook to get in touch with others in use Facebook to get in touch with others in their field…as well as research potential their field…as well as research potential candidates.candidates.

Assess Your SkillsAssess Your Skills Academic StrengthsAcademic Strengths

Reading, Writing, Speaking, and ListeningReading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening MathMath Creative ThinkingCreative Thinking Problem Solving and Decision MakingProblem Solving and Decision Making

Personal QualitiesPersonal Qualities Self-Esteem, Self-Management, Self-Esteem, Self-Management,

ResponsibilityResponsibility

People SkillsPeople Skills Social, Negotiation, Leadership, Social, Negotiation, Leadership,

TeamworkTeamwork

See a Career CounselorSee a Career Counselor The career counselors at your college The career counselors at your college

are trained professionals who can help are trained professionals who can help you you discover your strengths and discover your strengths and

weaknessesweaknessesevaluate your values and goalsevaluate your values and goalssort through what type of career you sort through what type of career you

wantwant They will not tell you what to do, they They will not tell you what to do, they

will simply help identify what factors will simply help identify what factors may lead to successful and interesting may lead to successful and interesting career options.career options.

Questions for Academic AdvisorsQuestions for Academic Advisors What classes should I take this term What classes should I take this term

and next?and next? What sequence of classes should I What sequence of classes should I

take?take? Am I taking too many difficult classes Am I taking too many difficult classes

in one term?in one term? What electives do you What electives do you

recommend?recommend? What career What career opportunitiesopportunities

are there if I study are there if I study mainly _____? mainly _____?

Getting ExperienceGetting Experience Volunteer or service Volunteer or service

learninglearning Study abroadStudy abroad Internships/co-opsInternships/co-ops On-campus employmentOn-campus employment Student Student

projects/competitionsprojects/competitions ResearchResearch On-the-job trainingOn-the-job training ApprenticeshipsApprenticeships

Research the JobResearch the Job Identify the skills and Identify the skills and

experience necessary to experience necessary to perform the job you want.perform the job you want.

Determine the general Determine the general requirements of the job.requirements of the job.

Learn about the day-to-day Learn about the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.tasks and responsibilities.

Research the company and Research the company and employer.employer.

Determine the company’s Determine the company’s philosophy.philosophy.

The more you know about the The more you know about the job, the stronger the job, the stronger the candidate you will become.candidate you will become.

How big will my

office be?

Know What Employers WantKnow What Employers Want Potential employers will look for evidence Potential employers will look for evidence

of your accomplishments and experiences.of your accomplishments and experiences. Did you hold leadership positions?Did you hold leadership positions? Were you active in campus organizations or Were you active in campus organizations or

extracurricular activities?extracurricular activities? Did you have relevant experiences in co-op, Did you have relevant experiences in co-op,

internships, or part-time work?internships, or part-time work? Did you make good grades?Did you make good grades? The more you have of these experiences, the The more you have of these experiences, the

better.better. Go by incognito and get the “lay of the Go by incognito and get the “lay of the

land.”land.” How do the employees dress, interact with each How do the employees dress, interact with each

other, look forother, look for company policy wall signs and so on.company policy wall signs and so on.

Building a ResumeBuilding a Resume

Put contact information at the top.Put contact information at the top. State an objective if appropriate.State an objective if appropriate. List education to date. List education to date. State accomplishments succinctly using State accomplishments succinctly using

action verbs.action verbs. Separate work experience related to your Separate work experience related to your

major from other work experience. major from other work experience. Include interests you want to talk about—Include interests you want to talk about—

they are often used to begin an interview.they are often used to begin an interview. Even if the job isn’t related to your Even if the job isn’t related to your

major, employers will want to see how major, employers will want to see how your experience is relevant to the job.your experience is relevant to the job.

Knock ‘Em Dead in a Job InterviewKnock ‘Em Dead in a Job Interview The examples you give The examples you give

of your past of your past experiences is critical.experiences is critical.

Be able to show how Be able to show how past experiences past experiences relate to this relate to this opportunity.opportunity.

Résumés are important Résumés are important in getting you an in getting you an interview in the first interview in the first place. Make yours place. Make yours organized and clear.organized and clear.

Prepare for the Prepare for the interview: research interview: research your prospective your prospective employer.employer.

Anticipate what you Anticipate what you will be asked and will be asked and practice interviewing.practice interviewing.

Ask appropriate job-Ask appropriate job-related questions.related questions.

Keep your cool. Keep your cool. Remember, employers Remember, employers are looking for are looking for competent people competent people with whom they want with whom they want to work.to work.

Job Interviews (cont’d)Job Interviews (cont’d) Be able to answer basic questions:Be able to answer basic questions:

Why do you want this job?Why do you want this job? What are your strengths? Your weaknesses?What are your strengths? Your weaknesses? What sets you apart from other candidates?What sets you apart from other candidates?

If you decide you want the job, you If you decide you want the job, you may want to ask for it at the close of may want to ask for it at the close of the interview.the interview.

Type a brief follow-up letter to mail Type a brief follow-up letter to mail within 24 hours. Follow-up is key!within 24 hours. Follow-up is key!

What are other interview questions you’ve encountered?

Explore Relevant Part-Time Explore Relevant Part-Time and Summer Jobsand Summer Jobs

Students benefit when their jobs Students benefit when their jobs are on campus.are on campus.

Investigate if there exists a part-time Investigate if there exists a part-time job in the department of your major.job in the department of your major.

Advanced planning will help you Advanced planning will help you obtain a summer job with a company obtain a summer job with a company related to your field.related to your field.

If you can’t find a related job, you If you can’t find a related job, you can still demonstrate work-related can still demonstrate work-related skills and a work ethic that will skills and a work ethic that will impress prospective employers.impress prospective employers.

Get A Job--Activity 13.1Get A Job--Activity 13.1 In your group, create a classified ad In your group, create a classified ad

for the “job” of college student. for the “job” of college student.

For example, “_______________________ For example, “_______________________ College/University is seeking College/University is seeking applicants with excellent skills in oral applicants with excellent skills in oral and written communication, problem and written communication, problem solving, time management, and solving, time management, and technology for positions as technology for positions as professional students preparing for a professional students preparing for a variety of future opportunities…” variety of future opportunities…”

Ads should list particular job Ads should list particular job requirements, benefits, information requirements, benefits, information about your institution and so on, and be about your institution and so on, and be transferred to a large sheet of paper transferred to a large sheet of paper to present to the group. to present to the group.

Internet Career JourneyInternet Career JourneyActivity 13.2Activity 13.2

Research a potentially desirable career via the Research a potentially desirable career via the Internet. Your goal should be to build a portfolio Internet. Your goal should be to build a portfolio that includes: that includes:

a printout or description of a career field of a printout or description of a career field of interest from the online Occupational Outlook interest from the online Occupational Outlook Handbook Handbook

a description of ten things you have learned about a description of ten things you have learned about yourself and your career choices based on what yourself and your career choices based on what you find you find

a projection of your lifestyle twenty years into a projection of your lifestyle twenty years into the future, including the career necessary to the future, including the career necessary to sustain that lifestyle, and other career-related sustain that lifestyle, and other career-related factors of interest such as preparation required, factors of interest such as preparation required, necessary skills, additional training after necessary skills, additional training after college, pros and cons, entry salary range, college, pros and cons, entry salary range, advancement opportunities, personality advancement opportunities, personality characteristics of those in the career field, characteristics of those in the career field, impact on family life, etc. impact on family life, etc.

Starting websites are shown on the next slide. Starting websites are shown on the next slide.

Internet Career JourneyInternet Career JourneyActivity 13.2 --Web Resources Activity 13.2 --Web Resources

Occupational Outlook Occupational Outlook Handbook Handbook

11_Careers_new.ppt11_Careers_new.ppt

Career Resource Center Career Resource Center http://www.careers.org/http://www.careers.org/

Job Hunt Job Hunt http://www.job-hunt.orghttp://www.job-hunt.org

The Catapult on Job WebThe Catapult on Job Webhttp://www.job-http://www.job-

hunt.org/hunt.org/

The Riley Guide: The Riley Guide: Employment Employment Opportunities and Job Opportunities and Job Resources on the Resources on the InternetInternet

www.rileyguide.comwww.rileyguide.com

Monster.comMonster.com

http://www.monster.comhttp://www.monster.com//

Quintessential CareersQuintessential Careershttp://www.quintcareers.com/ihttp://www.quintcareers.com/i

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