5 01 Understanding the decision making process as

5. 01 Understanding the decision making process as a component of career planning. Let the choices you make today be the decisions you can live with tomorrow.

Types of Decisions by importance Routine n n n Made often Often so minor that one probably does not even know they make them. Usually required little thought Major n n Are normally the toughest because they guide your careers and personal lives Tends to have lasting effects on a person and normally take resources to decide

Categories of Decisions 1. Personal n Examples Family Friends Relationships 2. Work/Career n Examples Where to work Job performance Transferring jobs 3. Consumer n Examples Making purchases n Food n Services n Cars n Houses 4. Lifestyle n Example Where do you want to live?

7 Decision Making Styles

AGONIZER 1) Agonizer n Spends a lot of time making decisions n What college should I attend?

MYSTIC 2) Mystic n Makes decision based on intuition n Using a hunch or your gut feeling to make a decision

FATALIST 3) Fatalist n Feels that he/she has no control over decisions

EVADER 4) Evader n “ostrich style” – Ignores the decision n “If I can’t see it, it didn’t happen”

PLUNGER 5) Plunger n Makes “impulsive” decisions An example of impulse decision making is purchasing a car, without thinking about the purchase.

SUBMISSIVE 6) Submissive n Let’s an authority figure make a decision

PLANNER 7) Planner n Thoughtful decision maker – Makes decisions using the Decision Making Process Use the decision making process when purchasing a house or deciding on a college.

7 Steps of the Decision Making Process

1. Determine Needs/Wants Define the problem n Determine what the question or concern is and its importance to your life Options for career Options for educational experiences

2. Analyze Personal Resources Identify Resources n Make a list of your available resources to help you reach your goals; time, money, material , information, facilities, people Human resources n Aptitudes n Abilities n Friends/Family/ Teacher Nonhuman resources n Car n Savings account

3. Gather information Consider the Alternatives n Explore all options open to you n Weigh the advantage and disadvantages n Ask yourself? Will this decision have a bad effect on me, my goals or anyone else? Will I be happy with this decision? Will this help me reach my goals? Is it illegal?

4. Establish Goals Set specific goals for yourself n Identify what you want to accomplish from the decisions you make

5. Make a Decision Make a choice n n Choose a decision that will better help you reach your goals Be happy with your choices

6. Plan to Reach Your Goal Implement the decision n Put your plans into action

7. Evaluate the results Judge how successful your plan was. n n Did it solve your problem? Did you meet your goals? This will help you with future decision making skills

Are there any benefits for using the process? Increases chance of reaching personal and career goals. Increases opportunity to gain related knowledge and experience. Increases chance of personal satisfaction/fulfillment Affirms the difference between a series of jobs versus the career development process. Can easily recognize the need to redirect goals as needed. Provides a direct course of action for reaching personal and career goals.

Career Development Process and the importance of it 1. Steps of the career development cycle 1. 2. 3. Awareness Exploration Planning 2. Career decision making 1) Determine needs/wants 1) Options for career 2) Options for educational experiences 2) Analyze personal resource 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Time Money Material Information Facilities People

3) Gather information 1) Self information 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Lifestyle goals Personality Family/marriage Roles Structure of living 1) 2) 3) 4) Geographic for living Rural vs urban Housing Neighborhood 6) Preference for meeting educational requirements

2. Career information 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. environment education/training requirements salary/benefits work values duties/responsibilities aptitude/ability requirements career outlook Working schedule Lifestyle goals Interests Values

4. Evaluate options/make a decision 4. 5. Options for career Options for education – college/training program/major 5. Plan to reach personal and career goals

What will influence my decision making? Personal priorities n n n n Lifestyle consideration Health Relationships Family upbringing Resources Education Religion

Culture n Beliefs Values Biases/Stereotypes Environment n n n Home School Community

What is the impact on career decisions based on education, work and family? Trade offs/compromises Impact of education n Pre requisite acquisition n Financial aid n Location of programs n Time Impact of family Impact of work n Family work history n Overtime work n Influence of parents on career development n Schedule n Family issues impacted n Travel by career decisions n Benefits • Childcare n Locations • Eldercare

Impact of family friendly programs • • • on site childcare programs On site services (banking, uniforms, etc) Schedule • • • Flex time Job sharing Telecommuting Flexible spending accounts Counseling/employee assistance program Family Medical Leave Act