C. As you think about your career and your life, is there a saying, expression, or belief that guides you toward your goals? What is it?

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1 CHAPTER 1: About You Although it may be tempting to jump straight into the want ads, your job search will be more productive if you take some time now to think about yourself, the type of job you would like, and your skills. By doing this, you ll be more confi dent in yourself and sure of your abilities. You ll also be able to identify jobs that will be a better fi t for you. The Big Picture Step 1: Considering Your Life Roles Step 2: Your Goals Step 3: Your Interests Step 4: Your Work Skills Step 5: Your Decision-Making Style Step 6: What if My Work History Isn t Perfect? Step 7: Identifying Occupations You ll Enjoy Step 1: Considering Your Life Roles A popular career theory is that each person has many different life roles that he or she plays from childhood through adulthood, and that these roles have an impact on his or her career choices. A. What are the main roles you have at this time in your life? Check mark the roles that apply to you. Are you a: Friend Spouse or partner Community member Parent Worker Child and/or grandchild Student or learner Hobbyist or leisurite Aunt, uncle Niece or nephew Cousin Other B. Next, circle the roles that are currently the most important to you. C. What ideas do you have about how you can balance these roles and your career? D. Think of life roles you no longer have. How have they infl uenced your career? Step 2: Your Goals What are your goals in life? You may have short-term goals, such as getting a new job in the next couple months, and long-term goals, such as starting your own business. A. What is one of your short-term goals? B. What is one of your long-term goals? C. As you think about your career and your life, is there a saying, expression, or belief that guides you toward your goals? What is it? D. What have you been proud of or felt a sense of accomplishment about in your life? 1

2 Step 3: Your Interests In addition to thinking about your life roles, another popular career theory suggests that you may also want to consider your interests when you are searching for a job. Perhaps something you enjoy doing in your free time could lead you in the direction of a job you d love. i Your Interests A. Check mark two or three career interest(s) that best describe you. B. Circle the interest you like best. C. If you'd rather do a computerized version of this section, you may download the Interest Profi ler from O*Net, the Occupational Information Network, at Artistic In artistic occupations, you can work with shapes, colors, designs, and patterns. These occupations often require you to be creative, and you can work without following a clear set of rules. Some examples of artistic occupations include interior designers, journalists, musicians, artists, photographers, and announcers. Conventional In conventional occupations, you can follow set steps and routines. You can also work with data and details. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow. Some examples of conventional occupations include accountants, administrative assistants, bookkeepers, computer support specialists, and fi re inspectors. Enterprising In enterprising occupations, you can lead people, make many decisions, and decide when to take risks. Many of these occupations are in the fi eld of business. Some examples of enterprising occupations include restaurant managers, laborer supervisors, paralegals, coaches, cosmetologists, loan offi cers, and small business owners. Investigative In investigative occupations, you can work with ideas and do a lot of thinking. You can also search for facts to help you solve problems. Some examples of investigative occupations include computer programmers, industrial safety inspectors, ultrasound technologists, and radiation therapists. Realistic In realistic occupations, you can work with practical, hands-on problems and solutions. You may often work with plants, animals, and real-world materials such as wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with other people. Some examples of realistic occupations include carpenters, heavy truck drivers, police offi cers, farmers and ranchers, pet groomers, and electricians. Social In social occupations, you can work with, communicate with, and teach people. You may also often help or provide a service to others. Some examples of social occupations include preschool teachers, medical assistants, alcohol and drug abuse counselors, registered nurses, and home health aides. What jobs or experiences have you had in the past that relate to these career interests? Step 4: Your Work Skills The next thing for you to consider is your skills. You have a variety of skills already, although you may not be aware of all of them. You have skills that you learned in your job, at school or home, and through other activities such as sports or volunteering. The skills you ll identify in this step are your Job-specifi c skills Transferable skills General skills and character traits 2

3 Job-Specific Skills A job-specifi c skill is something that you know how to do because you have done it or currently do it in your job. Job-specifi c skills are the same as job duties or job activities. Examples are: I know how to use power tools. I know how to help customers. I know how to fi ll orders. I know how to keep records. I know how to order supplies. Think of some of the job-specifi c skills that you have right now. It would be helpful for you to have a copy of your current or most recent job description. If you don t have a copy of your job description, take a minute to make a list of the activities you might do on a typical day in your current or most recent job. What are some job-specifi c skills that you use at your current/most recent job? Of these, which would you like to keep using in future jobs? Transferable Skills Transferable skills are skills that you learned in one job that can be used in other jobs. They re called transferable because you can transfer them from one job to another. Transferable skills are based on job-specifi c skills, but they allow you to see the big picture of what you know how to do. Example of a Transferable Skill Job #1 Fast Food Restaurant Job-Specifi c Skill: I run a cash register and my drawer is always accurate. + Job #2 Retail Store Job-Specifi c Skill: I use the store s computer to accurately ring up cash, check, and credit card transactions. + Job #3 Receptionist at Dentist s Office Job-Specifi c Skill: I use the computer to schedule appointments and bill patients. = Transferable Skill I know how to keep track of money, things, and facts without making any errors. In this example, the person learned how to use a cash register and didn t make mistakes when accepting money from customers and when giving customers change. In the second job, the person also kept track of money and things (the store s inventory) by accurately typing sales into the computer. In the third job, the person kept track of both money and things by billing customers and by scheduling appointments. So the ability to keep track of money and things is a transferable skill. 3

4 Your Job-Specific Skills Become Transferable Skills Now thinking of the job-specifi c skills you listed, go through the list of 36 transferable skills on the next page and think how your job-specifi c skills might match some of the transferable skills in the list. Don t expect your job-specifi c skills to match all of the transferable skills; the main thing is to identify a few. It may help you to think of this sentence: Because I did this job duty, I have this transferable skill. Use the Transferable Skill Worksheet on the next page to help you fi gure out what skills you have and what ones you would enjoy using in future jobs. Remember to use the list of the skills you enjoy when you start working on your resume and cover letter and when preparing for interviews. General Skills & Character Traits Employers are looking for employees with some general skills and good character traits. General Skills & Character Traits Worksheet i A. Check mark skills or traits you have. B. Check mark your skills or traits that you especially want to point out to employers. Skills or Traits Honest Loyal Reliable Punctual Answer the telephone politely Follow company policies Effi ciently complete assigned tasks Take the initiative to get things done Follow directions Willing to learn Accept criticism Able to say thank you Able to sincerely apologize Able to listen Keep your word Manage anger (don t show an attitude ) Flexible Resolve confl icts Call your boss if you re running late or are sick Able to compromise Dress appropriately at work Handle disappointment in a healthy way Accept responsibility for your behavior Respect diversity and different points of view Sense of humor that s appropriate for the workplace I have Point out 4

5 i Transferable Skills Worksheet A. Read each of the skills and check mark how often you use that skill B. Check mark the transferable skills you enjoy using the most. C. Check mark the transferable skills you especially want a future employer to be aware that you have. Often I use these skills Sometimes Never I enjoy the most Point out to employers Reasoning Skills Made choices and was responsible for what happened based on my choice Solved problems by fi nding information, observing things, or asking questions Found problems with something and solved them Creative Skills Used my own ideas to create something Drew or designed something Information Skills Made information easier for others to understand (by changing it from words into pictures or the other way around) Found information in books, trade magazines, on the Internet to answer questions Arranged and fi led business records, letters, or other documents Combined information from different sources in order to make something new System Skills Put parts together to construct a machine or product Fixed or replaced parts when things were broken Cleaned or adjusted parts of something to keep it working smoothly Self-Management Skills Took responsibility for my actions and the effects of those actions on other people or things Always got my work done on time Finished my work without wasting time, materials, or energy Self-Initiative Skills Competed with myself or others to reach a goal Did something without being asked or told to do it Lifted or carried heavy things for long periods of time Did work that required me to focus my physical or mental efforts on a task in order to fi nish it Interpersonal Skills Helped people solve their disagreements by working out a solution others were okay with Helped other people by paying attention to their needs Taught people new information or how to do something Worked with other people as a team to reach a goal Cared for people who were sick or injured Leadership Skills Made suggestions to people to help them solve problems or lead by example Stated my opinions and ideas without worrying what other people would think or confronted other people Directed how other people did their work or introduced new ideas Convinced other people that my ideas for doing things were the best Communication Skills Corrected or rewrote text, using proper grammar and clear sentences Described something so people could understand it Asked people questions to gain information and solve problems Listened to people Performed in front of an audience 5

6 Step 5: Your Decision-Making Style Perhaps you know someone who tends to make decisions on the spur of the moment, without thinking about options or consequences. Or maybe you have a friend who s the opposite, taking weeks or months to decide what to do about a problem and in the meanwhile driving everyone around him or her crazy. Knowing your main decision-making style is a part of managing your career. However, decision-making styles become a challenge when they cause people to do things that are not well-thought out and ultimately not in their best interests. Think of an important decision you recently had to make. Write that decision here: How did you make this decision? Thought about the decision for a long time, maybe made a list of pros and cons, then decided what to do Imagined many different options and then chose the option that felt right to you Avoided making up your mind by asking someone else to decide for you Made the decision quickly without considering options or consequences Hoped the problem would go away by itself so you didn t have to decide Gathered a lot of information about the problem, but postponed making the decision Some other way: Why did you decide the way you did? Do you feel that the way you made the decision was a good one? Yes No What were the results or consequences of your decision? Did you take other people s thoughts and feelings into consideration when you made your decision? Yes No How would you handle making the decision if you could do things over again? Naturally you ll make many decisions in your job search. The following are some things for you to consider when making a decision. Identify the problem and the decision you need to make. Gather information about the problem to help you decide what to do. Imagine several ways of solving the problem. Think about what the results or consequences might be of your decision. Do the results affect you alone or do they also affect other people? Make a list of what the results or consequences might be. Make the decision. Plan how to carry out your decision. Step 6: What if My Work History Isn t Perfect? Many people have concerns about things they think are problems with their work history or problems with them personally. Some examples of concerns are: I ve never had a paying job. I was fi red from a job. I ve had six jobs just this year. I am overweight. I had bad grades in school. I never fi nished high school. I have an eight-month gap in my work history. I have a disability. I have a criminal record. I have tattoos on my arms and hands. I smoke cigarettes. I don t have a permanent address. I have health problems. 6

7 If there is something in your work history or other problems that you have concerns about, you may wish to talk to an employment counselor at your local Job Service or Workforce Development offi ce. You can set up a confi dential meeting with the counselor, so the two of you can talk about your concerns and come up with a plan to explain them to employers in a truthful and positive way. The counselor can also explain federal, state, and local laws that protect you from discrimination. He or she can help you determine occupations and companies that might be a good fi t for you. If you don t wish to talk with an employment counselor, try asking a family member or friend for ideas. Do not lie about or misrepresent your work history on a resume, in a cover letter, on a job application, or during the interview. Many employers do background checks even after you are hired. If you are found to have lied about or misrepresented anything in your work history, most companies will fi re you the moment they discover the truth. Be prepared to address the problem in your resume, cover letter, or job interview. This may be very painful to you at fi rst, but try to think of how you could explain to the employer how you have learned and grown based on the experience. When you think about your work history, was there anything that you feel prevented you from pursuing the career you wanted? Yes No What is it? (Details aren t necessary.) What do you think the employer will be worried about when he or she learns of it? How will you address it on your resume, in your cover letter, or during the interview so that the employer is put at ease? What have you learned based on the experience? Step 7: Identifying Occupations You ll Enjoy On the following page is a worksheet where you ll put together the main ideas of each section in this chapter. By thinking about your answers and referring to online career information sources or resources at your local library or Job Service/Workforce Development offi ce, you should be able to fi nd a list of occupations to investigate. At the library, you can ask to speak with a librarian and explain that you are looking for information about different career options. Some libraries even have a specifi c section with resources for job seekers. State Career Information Delivery Systems If you re looking online, a career information source that may be especially helpful is your state s Career Information Delivery System (CIDS). Your state s CIDS website should help you link your skills and interests to occupations. Listings of state career information systems can be found at and Look for links to your state s CIDS or career resource network. You may also try the Skills Search in O*Net Online, a national career resource, available at online.onetcenter.org. 7

8 i Identifing the Occupations You ll Enjoy Worksheet Referring back to your responses to the previous six steps, this seventh step is where you will start to come up with a big picture of yourself and the careers you might be interested in. Which of your life roles most directly affects your career options? see page 1 Which beliefs about yourself and your career most infl uence your job search? see page 1 Which career interest areas do you like the best? see page 2 Which of your job-specifi c skills would you most like to continue using in future jobs? see page 3 Which of your general skills and character traits do you want to emphasize to employers? see page 4 Which transferable skills do you enjoy using and want to point out to employers? see page 5 How do you prefer to make decisions? see page 6 8