PERSONAL ASSESSMENT
How can you make sure you select a job you will enjoy and that fits your life situation? Your career planning activities should start with a self-assessment of your interests, values, and abilities. These three areas will help you better understand the careers that will be the best for you. With a thorough self-assessment, you will be more likely to have a satisfying and successful career.
InterestsMany resources are available in print and online to determine the activities that give you satisfaction. Your interests provide a basis for your employment goals and possible career paths.
People with strong social tendencies may be best suited for work interacting with people. If you enjoy investigating situations, a career in some type of research should be considered. What are some topics or activities of interest to you?
ValuesYour values are things that are important to you. You can learn about your values with exercises or activities. These exercises show how you rank items such as prestige, money, power, achievement, independence, security, belonging, or serving others. Each of these may influence you, directly or indirectly, when you select your life's work.
You can begin to look at your values by answering some questions. Your answers will help you understand what you consider important. Examples of questions include:
How can you make sure you select a job you will enjoy and that fits your life situation? Your career planning activities should start with a self-assessment of your interests, values, and abilities. These three areas will help you better understand the careers that will be the best for you. With a thorough self-assessment, you will be more likely to have a satisfying and successful career.
InterestsMany resources are available in print and online to determine the activities that give you satisfaction. Your interests provide a basis for your employment goals and possible career paths.
People with strong social tendencies may be best suited for work interacting with people. If you enjoy investigating situations, a career in some type of research should be considered. What are some topics or activities of interest to you?
ValuesYour values are things that are important to you. You can learn about your values with exercises or activities. These exercises show how you rank items such as prestige, money, power, achievement, independence, security, belonging, or serving others. Each of these may influence you, directly or indirectly, when you select your life's work.
You can begin to look at your values by answering some questions. Your answers will help you understand what you consider important. Examples of questions include:
- Is it important for me to earn a lot of money?
- Am I mainly interested in work that provides a service for others?
- Is it important for me to have an occupation that others think is important even if I do not really care for it?
- Do I want an occupation that is very challenging and may require additional schooling?
- Would I be willing to start in a job that pays a lower salary than another if that job was more challenging and offered better opportunities for future advancement?
- Do I consider investing money in education or occupational training as important as spending for other things?
Talents and AbilitiesEach of you has certain talents and abilities. A talent is a natural, inborn aptitude to do certain things. People often say someone has a “natural talent.” Ability is the quality of being able to perform a mental or physical task. Your talents and abilities, along with your career goals and interests, are important in career planning.
You can learn about your abilities in a number of ways. Think about the courses you have taken and the grades you have received in school. What kinds of courses have you taken? In which ones have you done your best work? Which courses have been easiest for you? Which have been the most difficult? Which do you like the best? Answers to questions such as these will identify your talents and abilities.
Abilities can be developed, and that is important to keep in mind. If you are weak in a certain area, you may want to take courses that will improve that area. For instance, employers continually report that writing, reading, and computing skills are very important.
If you are not strong in preparing reports, take extra courses in English and Business Communication. If reading is a concern, get help in that area. If working with fractions and decimals is not easy for you, more courses in math, including business math, would be desirable. Work to strengthen your weak areas before you go into full-time work. You can plan your courses and future activities to help you grow toward your chosen career.
You can learn about your abilities in a number of ways. Think about the courses you have taken and the grades you have received in school. What kinds of courses have you taken? In which ones have you done your best work? Which courses have been easiest for you? Which have been the most difficult? Which do you like the best? Answers to questions such as these will identify your talents and abilities.
Abilities can be developed, and that is important to keep in mind. If you are weak in a certain area, you may want to take courses that will improve that area. For instance, employers continually report that writing, reading, and computing skills are very important.
If you are not strong in preparing reports, take extra courses in English and Business Communication. If reading is a concern, get help in that area. If working with fractions and decimals is not easy for you, more courses in math, including business math, would be desirable. Work to strengthen your weak areas before you go into full-time work. You can plan your courses and future activities to help you grow toward your chosen career.
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCEMost people have more career skills than they realize. Your involvement in a range of school and community activities provides the basis for employment experiences. You can obtain further career-oriented abilities in four main ways: work-study programs, part-time employment, volunteering, and school activities.
Work-Study ProgramsCooperative education combines school with work-related experience. These programs provide an occasion to develop a variety of on-the-job skills. You will not only learn about technical aspects of the job, but will also learn to interact in work settings.
In a similar way, internships involve work experience in organizations while learning about a career field. internships for careers in accounting, finance, marketing, and communications are available with many companies and nonprofit organizations.
Applying for an internship is similar to applying for a job. First, identify potential positions. Then prepare a resume and cover letter to communicate your background and interest in participating in an internship.
Part-Time EmploymentSummer and part-time work can provide valuable experience. In addition, these work situations will allow you the chance to see if you enjoy a particular career field. Your part-time work experience also helps you make contacts. These people will be able to guide you and offer support throughout your working life.
Volunteer ActivitiesInvolvement in community service can result in gaining career experiences and improving work habits. Volunteering in community organizations also helps you develop organizational skills while making future career contacts.
School ActivitiesClass assignments can provide work-related experiences. For example, research and communication skills are developed when you prepare reports and oral presentations. Working on team projects offers you a chance to interact with others, a skill vital in every career.
School clubs and organizations can result in a range of valuable skills. Goal setting, planning, supervising, and delegating responsibility are activities needed in many employment settings.
SOURCES OF AVAILABLE JOBS
Finding available positions is a common concern for job hunters. Several sources are often used to obtain leads. Your ability to find job openings is a key part of career planning activities.
Work-Study ProgramsCooperative education combines school with work-related experience. These programs provide an occasion to develop a variety of on-the-job skills. You will not only learn about technical aspects of the job, but will also learn to interact in work settings.
In a similar way, internships involve work experience in organizations while learning about a career field. internships for careers in accounting, finance, marketing, and communications are available with many companies and nonprofit organizations.
Applying for an internship is similar to applying for a job. First, identify potential positions. Then prepare a resume and cover letter to communicate your background and interest in participating in an internship.
Part-Time EmploymentSummer and part-time work can provide valuable experience. In addition, these work situations will allow you the chance to see if you enjoy a particular career field. Your part-time work experience also helps you make contacts. These people will be able to guide you and offer support throughout your working life.
Volunteer ActivitiesInvolvement in community service can result in gaining career experiences and improving work habits. Volunteering in community organizations also helps you develop organizational skills while making future career contacts.
School ActivitiesClass assignments can provide work-related experiences. For example, research and communication skills are developed when you prepare reports and oral presentations. Working on team projects offers you a chance to interact with others, a skill vital in every career.
School clubs and organizations can result in a range of valuable skills. Goal setting, planning, supervising, and delegating responsibility are activities needed in many employment settings.
SOURCES OF AVAILABLE JOBS
Finding available positions is a common concern for job hunters. Several sources are often used to obtain leads. Your ability to find job openings is a key part of career planning activities.
The MediaSome of the same sources that provide career planning information are also valuable for identifying potential employment positions. Help-wanted ads can be a starting point. Newspapers post employment ads on their websites and job-search websites have searchable databases of currently advertised positions. Be aware that most available positions are not advertised to the general public. Therefore, other job search actions are very important.
Personal ContactsYou need to let as many people as possible know that you are looking for a job. Your school counselors and business teachers can be helpful. If your school has a placement office, be sure to register with that office. Your relatives, friends, neighbors, and others can be valuable sources of job leads.
Business ContactsYou should visit businesses and ask about their openings. Some businesses post help-wanted signs in their windows. Some retail businesses, including restaurants, accept applications continuously. They make it easy for prospective employees to pick up and turn in applications. Employment kiosks, where you can apply for a job online, are common in large stores. Getting a job means going out and looking around. During a visit, you will be able to observe the types of activities performed by employees. You may also be able to make contacts for future career information.
Use phone books, business directories, and websites to find names of organizations that may have unadvertised jobs. Communicating with these companies can produce business contacts that can result in current or future employment opportunities.
Career FairsCareer fairs are often held at schools or community centers. These events allow a chance to contact several prospective employers in a short time. You will be asked a few questions to determine if you qualify for a longer interview.
Get ready for job fairs by being prepared to quickly communicate your potential contributions to an organization. Knowing something about the company will help set you apart from other applicants.
Government Employment OfficesLocal and state government employment offices are another source for information about available jobs. These tax-supported agencies help people find jobs and provide career information, and work with employers to find qualified workers.
Employment offices can provide up-to-date information about the job market in your area. They can help you look for part-time, summer, or full-time work.
When seeking employment, use a variety of sources. Be sure to talk to as many people as possible about potential jobs and job search strategies. Use this information to create a plan that will make you a strong job candidate.
Personal ContactsYou need to let as many people as possible know that you are looking for a job. Your school counselors and business teachers can be helpful. If your school has a placement office, be sure to register with that office. Your relatives, friends, neighbors, and others can be valuable sources of job leads.
Business ContactsYou should visit businesses and ask about their openings. Some businesses post help-wanted signs in their windows. Some retail businesses, including restaurants, accept applications continuously. They make it easy for prospective employees to pick up and turn in applications. Employment kiosks, where you can apply for a job online, are common in large stores. Getting a job means going out and looking around. During a visit, you will be able to observe the types of activities performed by employees. You may also be able to make contacts for future career information.
Use phone books, business directories, and websites to find names of organizations that may have unadvertised jobs. Communicating with these companies can produce business contacts that can result in current or future employment opportunities.
Career FairsCareer fairs are often held at schools or community centers. These events allow a chance to contact several prospective employers in a short time. You will be asked a few questions to determine if you qualify for a longer interview.
Get ready for job fairs by being prepared to quickly communicate your potential contributions to an organization. Knowing something about the company will help set you apart from other applicants.
Government Employment OfficesLocal and state government employment offices are another source for information about available jobs. These tax-supported agencies help people find jobs and provide career information, and work with employers to find qualified workers.
Employment offices can provide up-to-date information about the job market in your area. They can help you look for part-time, summer, or full-time work.
When seeking employment, use a variety of sources. Be sure to talk to as many people as possible about potential jobs and job search strategies. Use this information to create a plan that will make you a strong job candidate.