Getting from Here to There

Transcription

1 Getting from Here to There The Career Planning Process for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows Keturah Leonforde MBA CHRM Career Development Centre 2013

2 Learning Objectives Recognize the need to put into words my skills, strengths and preferences as they apply to careers Discover how to gather relevant career information Understand how to begin generating a list of possible careers to research Be aware of the career planning resources available through the Career Centre

3 Introductions Name Program - Goals

4 Give a man a fish you feed him for a day Teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime! -Chinese Proverb

5 Ask the right question What can I do with my program? Skills? Experiences? Interests? Personality? Geographic restrictions? Personal & Financial Commitments? YOU are MORE than your program!

6 A better question What does career success mean to me? Exercise: Part 1: Define career success in your own words Part 2: Pair and share Beware the 4Ps: Peers, Parents, Partners and Profs

7 A Word to the Wise Take a bit of time, if you can, to define success on your own terms. Then stay true to yourself while earning a living. If you can retain your personal values and beliefs even during hard times, you re likelier to end up contented than those who chase after goals that weren t their own in the first place. - Workopolis Career Advisor, Mark Swartz MBA, M.Ed

8 Sources of Grad Student Stress* 1. Balance between school & life outside of school 2. Career success 3. Financial pressures 4. Stress or burnout 5. Health 6. Meeting other people s expectations 7. Choosing the wrong career path 8. Not completing their degree 9. Relationships with professors 10. Relationships with peers 11. Feeling like an outsider 12. Spiritual growth *2011 data from Grad Resources Survey of 578 graduate students at 26 universities

9 WHY begin career planning now? Begin with the end in mind Steven Covey, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

10 WHAT is career planning? A dynamic process of researching, analyzing, interpreting and continually reflecting on accurate information about your Personality, skills and interests Current & potential marketability Evolving lifestyle requirements Career options, interests and themes

11 Career planning process model CAREER AWARENESS EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION SELF- AWARENESS CAREER IMMERSION GOAL SETTING

12 Self-Awareness WHAT Understanding yourself and what matters to you from a career perspective Personality TYPE Work environment preferences Lifestyle preferences Personal motivators Competencies, skills and gaps REFLECTION + ARTICULATION + EVALUATION HOW Personality Assessments - TYPEFOCUS Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI ) Interest and Skills Inventories Strong Interest Inventory CareerLeader Assessment Debrief workshops Individual appointments

13 Self-Awareness Exercise Professional Skills Identification What do my past accomplishments suggest regarding the skills I have and the skills I might enjoy using in a career? (Note: There is a difference!) What skills might I need to develop?...

14 Career Awareness WHAT Secondary research to acquire knowledge of existing and emerging career options in your field(s) of interest Tasks and activities Entry and progression requirements Demand & earning potential Work culture Geographical environment Future trends and outlook (LMI) Life Context HOW wlu.ca/career Career Assessments My major overview Career profiles CareerCruising The BIG guide to Living & Working Overseas Graduate Employment Stats Internet/Social Media Groups/Blogs (e.g. LinkedIn, Working in Canada, Datamonitor360, Scott s Directories etc.) Academic Conferences Professional Associations & Events Industry Websites & Activities

15 Upcoming Career Events JOB FAIR EMPLOYERS February 6 partners4employment.com

16 Self-Awareness linked to Career Awareness Exercise Life Context Analysis Identify a potential career field that you might reasonably consider. Ask yourself, How well will this career path fit with my Life Context?

17 Career Immersion WHAT Primary research to assess the suitability of a short list of career options Informational Interviewing Strategic Volunteering Job Shadowing Labour Market Information (LMI) Networking Connections Further Education & Training Co-op & Internship Opportunities HOW wlu.ca/career Informational Interviewing Guidebook Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) Volunteer Profiles Employer Information Events Career, Job and Education Fairs Professional Career Panels & Events NAVIGATOR Job Postings (FT/PT/CT) Network/referrals Professors, committee members, colleagues, co-workers, community partners and Laurier alumni etc.

18 Self-Awareness linked to Career Immersion Exercise Career Related Values How well do these potential careers align to my values? What are my career related values?

19 Goal Setting WHAT Using Self-Awareness inputs as a filter, conduct an analysis of your research findings Create a short-list of potential career options for the near term and the longer term. Prioritize your career preferences Determine next steps required to activate your preferred career plans Be prepared to recalibrate as this is a dynamic process (i.e. Plan B) HOW Reflection Consultation Professional Career Consultant Professors/Supervisors Mentor Colleague Counsellor or Advisor Friend Partner or Parent Additional Research (as required)

20 Goal Setting Reality Check Determine a few industries, jobs or environments that match your interests right now. You are by no means plotting your career path for the rest of your life Life is full of changes and surprises, so your ultimate path is bound to look quite different from whatever you imagine. -Lindsay Pollack, Gen Y Career Expert

21 Employment Preparation WHAT Target your professional job search efforts: Online profile Networking card Reference list Resumé, CV & cover letter templates Interview preparation & practice Teaching dossier (if applicable) Develop a proactive job search & networking campaign HOW 10 Career Builders Tips* GSA WLU Networking Cards wlu.ca/career Online resources and event calendar Employment Preparation workshops Resumé Writing Cover Letter Writing Interview Success Job Search & Networking NAVIGATOR Job Postings (FT/PT/CT) Career Development Certificate*

22 WHEN Sample Timelines ONE YEAR GRADUATE PROGRAM 2 YEAR+ GRADUATE PROGRAM SELF-AWARENESS CAREER AWARENESS CAREER IMMERSION Fall Term Fall Term Career Planning Assessment Debrief appointment Networking Card Online profile PD events (Career Day, Academic Careers Event, Professional Panels) GOAL-SETTING EMPLOYMENT PREPARATIONN Winter Term Winter & Spring Terms CV, Resume & Cover Letter appointment Interview Success Job Search PD events (Job Fair, Professional Panels) Spring Term Year Two+ Job Search (active) Interview coaching appointment Networking activities (e.g. Conferences)

23 WHY Career Planning I m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You ve got to find what you love If you haven t found it yet, keep looking. Don t settle. - Steve Jobs, Founder, Apple Computers

24 Connect with us! Keturah Leonforde x4495 wlu.ca/career facebook.com/lauriercareercentre lauriercareercentre.wordpress.com linkedin.com (Laurier Career Centre group)

25 If I could turn back time Alumni reflections on what they wish they had known before college

26 REMINDER - Career Events SPEAKER & NETWORKING PANELS Careers in Sales Career Connections Various Laurier Alumni Careers in Academia Careers in Social Change Careers in Human Resources DATES Tuesday Nov p.m. Wednesday Nov 7 5:30 7 p.m. Friday Nov 16 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Wednesday Nov 21 5:30 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Nov p.m.