You Control the The "You" Factors in Career Planning

Don’t know what you want to be when you grow up?

If you’ve already graduated from high school, you may not know yourself well enough to give a career counselor all the information he or she needs to help you.

He or she will probably suggest one or more of the most reliable career assessments: perhaps the Strong or Campbell Interest Inventories. They’re quick, a good investment and the results statistically represent your age group results. Or, a career counselor could use a values assessment, to determine what’s important to you and where you could find those qualities in a job.

These assessments work on the premise that you will be successful at things you like, and believe in. That’s very true, but how do you know what you COULD be good at, and interested in, if you never get exposed to new ideas and get a chance to try them out? For young adults, in particular, assessment results are limited to what they’ve been exposed to up until now.

The most sophisticated tests used to guide career planning are available through a psychologist or someone trained in tests of personality, ability (like the DAT for PCA) and intelligence. Still, the results here are somewhat fixed, and speak only to the potential for you to fit a career. They’re more apt to help an employer make decisions, not you.

Even if you could get interested in a new skill, there is a ticket to admission into this career path: Your skills may have to be developed. Should you go to college, or to a career center? Or somewhere else?

Discouraged? Please don’t be!

Yes, these decisions are expensive, both in time and money. And, like any service, even a medical doctor, your career counselor needs your direction and thoughtful responses to their questions. No one can give you all the answers.

The thing to remember is that you are in charge of this process; not the professionals. And it’s a lifelong process. That’s why so many college students change majors; many more than once. And so many college students are undecided about a major. Many college graduates never pursue the job that they went to college for. Any many adults change careers.

As you move through your work life, you will make better decisions when you understand all the factors that uniquely drives your satisfaction in a job: interests, abilities, personality, and values. You’ll be more motivated and confident about the investment you might need to make in training or education. Our Career Explor-a-tion workshop might just be a good place to start! Write to info@whatsyourmajor.net

Five “Simple” Steps to Find High-Demand Jobs and High-Demand Majors

When deciding among over 20,000 job titles and over 3000 colleges, it’s important to best your best advocate. No one can tell you what’s right for you. The following steps sound easy, but will require you to do some reading and thinking about your own interests, values and skills before making final decisions. And you’ll probably have to back-track through these steps several times before you have information that feels actionable to you.

You’ll also have to carefully consider what you’re willing to do to attain these jobs. And realize that “everything depends”:

- on what you’re willing to do to get the job (including taking steps to increase and broaden some of your natural skills), and

- on the specific opportunities available from the specific employers in your area, and their hiring criteria.

Once you’re armed with the facts and a plan, you’ll be more motivated and confident, with the greatest chance of meeting your goals.

1. Research the high-demand jobs and high-demand majors can be researched for each state at http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco20024.htm

The Department of Labor currently publishes projections for growth, number of openings, and salary levels through 2016.

2. Once you know the projections for your state, you can read about the job requirements in the Occupational Outlook Handbook by plugging in the SOC code.

3. Learn about job requirements, including education by reading the job description.

4. If you’re college-bound, use a search engine like College Board’s Matchmarker to plug in the type of degree you need to get the job. If you register at this site, you can also create and save a list of potential colleges, using your criteria for cost, location, and many more factors.

If you’re not college-bound, or want to make a career change without returning to college, look into training programs at your local community or career colleges, or certifications available through professional associations.

5. Talk to faculty, not just the admissions folks, at the colleges or programs that you’re considering. Share your research and questions with your prospective instructors and get their reaction. The really “connected” faculty will be approachable and knowledgeable about where recent students are working today.

Remember, most hiring decisions are based on “soft skills,” so you must polish up your communication and team work skills. Nearly everyone thinks that they have these skills, but you must be able to show specific examples of your work style during interviews.

Write to us at info@whatsyourmajor.net for advice and workshops for college planning and success!

www.whatsyourmajor.net

Jill Bernaciak Linked In Profile

College Grads: Rally Your Enthusiasm During Job Interviews

In a job interview, a recent college graduate was asked what she thought of the opportunity.

Her answer: "It wouldn't be my first choice."

The result: No job offer

Author Barbara Pachter says that many millennials limit their job options by making poor choices in etiquette (http://barbarapachter.blogspot.com/2009/05/mistakes-to-avoid-when-looking-for-work.html)

The graduate above was essentially insulting the interviewer by demeaning the job, in telling the "truth".

It's not necessary to lower your career goals, but it is important to show that you spent your time well right after graduation. You need a job as soon as possible to provide proof of your ambition.

If you're going to accept an interview, make sure that you prepare, demonstrate openness and a positive attitude and followup in a way that keeps everything going in your favor. Don't assume anything about the position you're interviewing for, or the person doing the interview. He or she may even have other "unadvertised" opportunities.

True,

Your first job may not align with your college major.

It may be a hourly rate and not a salary.

It may be part-time.

It may not pay what you think you're worth.

But, in today's job market, you're competing with experienced professionals. They know something that you don't know.

1. Any seemingly great job offer can turn out to be disappointing, once you get there. And..

2. A position that seems inadequate at first can produce unforeseen opportunities, once you get there.

When your expectations about your first job are too lofty, you won't take interviews seriously, you won't get a job offer, and -- worst of all -- you will undermine your own confidence. Handle the interview well, and you're sure to get a boost in your self-image.

In an interview, it's best to focus on evaluating the job positively, thinking of ways it can help you, instead of assuming that it's not what you're looking for. Keep your options open. You don't have to make a decision until you get an offer!

Once you get a job, learn as much as you can while there, build professional friendships that will help you build your future; and create a reputation for reliability and expertise. You'll soon be in a position to control your own destiny.