rethinking your career...when your are looking for a job

Bruce Biskin, PhD, GCDFPSG of Mercer County March 16, 2012

Rethinking Your Career …When You Are Looking for a Job

Bruce Biskin, PhD, GCDFRethinking Your Career

Bruce Biskin, PhD, GCDF

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Today’s Discussion

Rethinking Your Career

We will: Define “career exploration.” Identify reasons to explore career options. Consider why continuous career exploration

is increasingly important. Describe a simple model of career decision-

making, focusing on career exploration. List some resources available if you need

help.

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Career Paths



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Exploring Careers: Some Definitions



Career “The general progression of your work or

professional life.”

Explore “To examine or investigate something

systematically.”

So career exploration is….

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Career Exploration is…



Systematically examining

options to guide the progression

of your work or professional life.

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Why Explore Career Options?



Why would you think about exploring careers? Lack of Information Looking for a Better Fit Seeking New Opportunities Doubt Anything Else?

Christopher Columbus

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Lack of Information



“I don’t know what careers exist.” “I don’t know myself well enough to

choose a career.” “How do I choose a career?” “What are my talents and motivators?” “What industries/employers hire people

like me?” “What are the fields and jobs of the

future?”

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Looking for a Better Fit



“I want a more fulfilling career.” “I love to do many things—I can’t choose just

one.” “I’m getting bored with what I do.” “No job I ever had excited me for long.”

“I feel my talents are no longer valued.” “My career is becoming obsolete.” “My field is changing.” I used to love my work, but now it’s a drag.”

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Seeking Opportunities



“I love new challenges.” “I want to earn more than I can now.” “I want to start something new.” “Growth in [new field] is doubling every

year!”

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Indecisiveness



“How will I know which career is right for me?”

“I just can’t figure out this career maze no matter how hard I try!”

“I just don’t know what to do—and I’m afraid I never will!”

“I want you to tell me what career to choose.”


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Why should you look at career options?


Over time… the nature of work changes! the physical world in which we live

changes! the culture of the workplace changes! …and YOU change!


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When should you look at career options?


a) when you need a job

b) whenever you can make time

c) almost anytime

d) all the time

e) all of the above

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Career Decision-Making States



Four States “Stay the Course” (default) “Make Mid-Course Corrections” “Find a New Route” “Choose a New Destination”

You always are in one of these states.


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Career Decision-Making Styles


Four Styles “The Ostrich” “The Gambler” “The Tosser” “The Planner”

We use all these styles sometimes.

We tend to have a preferred style.

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The Ostrich


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The Gambler


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The Tosser


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The Planner



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Basic Career Planning Model


Step 1: Collect Information Step 2: Identify or eliminate options Step 3: Make a plan Step 4: Implement the plan


Career Planning Cycle

Collectinformation

Implementand update plan

Develop/Tweak

Plan

Identifyoptions

Set/Evaluate

Goals


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Collect & Inventory Information


– Jobs Requirements

Education Training Experience Reinforcers

Organizations

– Careers Occupations Fields & Industries

– Labor Market Supply Demand

– Yourself Skills Knowledge Abilities Motivators

Interests, values, preferences, personality


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How Well Do You Know: Yourself?


Skills Transferable Occupation-

specific Knowledge

Your occupation Your industry

Abilities General Specialized

Motivators Interests Values Needs Personality traits Preferences/style


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How Well Do You Know: The Work World?


What are typical work environments like? What are typical tasks and activities in

your occupations of interest? Required KSAs

What motivations are associated with success and satisfaction in occupations of interest? Work values, work environment,

compensation, etc. How easy is it to change from my career

to __? Re-Educating/Retraining/Re-Careering


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Career Exploration--Summary


1. Create an inventory of strengths, motivators, challenges2. Learn about occupational/career options3. Learn alternative job titles for similar jobs4. Learn about the labor market5. Create a career portfolio

You can use this information to: Identify and evaluate career options Identify development needs Set goals and create plans

Decision: Stay the course, mid-course adjustment, new path, or new destination

Revisit the plan periodicallyRethinking Your Career

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Seeking Career Services:Some Career Professionals*


Career Coach Career Consultant Career Counselor Career Development Facilitator Counseling Psychologist Executive Coach Résumé Writer Workforce Specialist

*in alphabetical orderRethinking Your Career

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Getting Career Assistance


Identify your needs first to find the right kind of professional

Contact your alma maters’ career centers Independent Professionals

Do your due diligence Check professional’s websites Check LinkedIn Get testimonials from trusted sources

Focus on those who had needs like yours Check out credentials

Education, experience, certifications


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Career Exploration Resources


Sample Resources Books

Richard Nelson Bolles, What Color Is Your Parachute? 2012: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers (40th Anniversary ed.). Ten Speed Press.

Paul D. Tieger & Barbara Barron-Tieger (2007). Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type (4th ed.). Little,Brown.

Career Professional Referrals Career services office of your college/university

Check website for career or counseling services; check alumni association web site, too

Professional associationsRethinking Your Career


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Career Exploration Resources

Websites O*NET (www.onetonline.org)

Authoritative occupational information database Alternative interface: www.mynextmove.org

Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) (www.bls.gov/oco/) Detailed descriptions of over 800 occupations 10-year employment outlook by occupation National wage/salary information; links to state information

Career One-Stop (www.careeronestop.org) Portal to various federal, state, and other websites for occupational

education, training, and other information. Links to O*NET and OOH. Professional & Trade Associations


http://www.onetonline.org/

http://www.mynextmove.org/

http://www.bls.gov/oco/

http://www.careeronestop.org/


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Sample Online Assessments

Free Interest Assessment Interest Profiler – Short Form (

http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip) Uses the RIASEC model, links to O*NET

Fee Assessment Strong Interest Inventory

Taken through qualified or certified professional Uses RIASEC; scheduled to link directly to O*NET in

Spring 2012 Four sets of scores; compares your interests with

those in both general and occupational reference groups


http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip


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Thank You!

Questions & Comments

?
