Majors and Careers Chapter 15 Careers and the

Majors and Careers Chapter 15

Careers and the New Economy • Base your decisions about major and career path on: ▫ Information about yourself ▫ Long-term demands of the job market • Characteristics of today’s economy ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ Global Unstable Innovative Without boundaries Customized Ever-changing Social

Careers and the New Economy • Building the right mind-set for the future ▫ A degree does not guarantee employment ▫ You are responsible for your career ▫ To advance, accept risks ▫ A first career choice may not be permanent ▫ Start now to build a portfolio of academic and co-curricular experiences (continued)

Working with an Academic Adviser • Prepare for your first meeting • Follow these rules on selecting courses: ▫ Most take four to six courses a term ▫ Know days and times classes meet and make sure they don’t overlap ▫ Register as early as possible ▫ Do not cram all of your classes into one or two days ▫ Go for a mix of hard and easy classes

Self-Exploration in Career Planning • Self-assessment ▫ Process of gathering information about yourself in order to make informed decisions • Factors that can affect career goals: ▫ ▫ ▫ Values Skills Aptitudes Personality Life goals and work satisfaction Interests

Self-Exploration in Career Planning (continued) • Values ▫ Things you most desire in a career, in relation to how you want to live ▫ A career choice related to your core values is likely to be the best choice • Skills ▫ Personal ▫ Workplace ▫ Transferable

Self-Exploration in Career Planning (continued) • Aptitudes ▫ Acquired or natural ability for learning ▫ Proficiency in a particular area • Personality ▫ Makes you who you are ▫ Don’t ignore when you make career decisions ▫ Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment � Make decisions � Perceive the world � Interact with others

Self-Exploration in Career Planning (continued) • Life goals and work values ▫ Two factors can change how we feel about our success and happiness: �Achieving the life goals we’ve set for ourselves �Gaining satisfaction from our work • Interests ▫ Good career exploration begins with considering what you like to do and relating that to your career choices

Exploring Your Interests • Try a major you think you’ll like and that makes sense given your identity • John Holland ▫ Developed a model that organizes career fields into six general categories ▫ Career fields are grouped according to what is required and what rewards are provided

Holland’s Hexagonal Model of Career Fields

Being Career-Minded in College • • • Visit the career center yearly Explore the career center Web site Attend your college’s career fairs Take a variety of classes and watch grades Network Discover leadership opportunities Build communication skills Develop computer skills Create and monitor your digital footprint

Tech Tip: Join the Professional Community • To research a professional community that you’re interested in joining: ▫ Conduct industry and career research ▫ Do some research on yourself ▫ Get familiar with professional organizations ▫ Find ways to gain real experience �Check with your college’s career center about internships

Getting Experience • Experiential learning ▫ Meet people who may later serve as important employment references ▫ Ways to pursue: �Volunteer �Service-learning �Study abroad �Internships and co-ops �Student projects and competitions �Research

Getting Experience (continued) • Working in college ▫ Gain professional experience ▫ Earn money for tuition, books, and living expenses ▫ Network/make connections ▫ Learn more about yourself and others ▫ Develop key skills, such as communication, teamwork, problem solving, work ethics, and time management

Getting Experience (continued) ▫ On-campus employment �Work schedules are often flexible �Connect with people who may later consult as mentors or professional references �Students who work on campus are more likely to graduate �Some jobs are reserved for work-study students ▫ Off-campus employment �May pay better �May be more convenient �May be in an organization where you want to continue working

Job-Search Strategies • Learn the names of the major employers in your college’s geographic area • Check the Web site of the state agency that provides information about employment opportunities • Visit employment agencies • Visit online job boards and look at the classified ads in the local and student newspapers • Be aware that many jobs are never posted • Realize that who you know is important

Job-Search Strategies • Market yourself ▫ If you don’t do it, no one else will ▫ Actions speak louder than words ▫ Got ideas? Share them ▫ Get an edge over your competition ▫ It isn’t all about you (continued)

Job-Search Strategies (continued) • Build a résumé ▫ Choose between the chronological or skills-based formats ▫ Employers spend 7 to 10 seconds screening each résumé ▫ Single page is usually appropriate • Write a cover letter ▫ Address to a specific individual ▫ Proofread carefully ▫ Explain how hiring you will benefit the organization

Job-Search Strategies (continued) • Interview preparation �Start with the organization’s or company’s Web site �Review competitors’ Web sites �Ask for advice �Use your library �Note the employer’s goals and values �Research the company’s products and services �Find out the company’s strategic goals, special projects, and new developments �Take your research with you to the interview

Job-Search Strategies • Practice interviewing ▫ Participate in a mock interview ▫ Many career centers have virtual practice interview software for you to gain experience • Appropriate interview conduct ▫ Dress appropriately ▫ Arrive to the interview on time ▫ Follow up (continued)

Skills Employers Seek • Content skills ▫ Intellectual or “hard” skills ▫ Acquired as you gain mastery in your field • Transferable skills ▫ Skills that apply or transfer to a variety of settings ▫ Communication skills, presentation skills, leadership skills, team skills, interpersonal skills, personal traits, critical thinking and problem solving