JOBTALKSJOBTALKS

YourYourCareer Portfolio Career Portfolio Project Project Instructions:Instructions:College to CareerCollege to CareerIndiana UniversityKelley School of BusinessC. Randall Powell, Ph.D

Contents used in this presentation are adapted from Career Planning Strategies and used with the permission of the author.

Career PlanningCareer Planning

• Career Planning is a journey through life

• Planning is a journey; not an event

• Journeys require a plan

• Wise decision-making is essential

• Written plans tend to succeed

• Submit a written project each week

Strategic Career PlanningStrategic Career Planning

• Your journey starts today

• Do you really expect to retire?

• Strategies are planned events;

not haphazard situations

• You need a vision of your future

• A Strategic Plan matches goals with reality

Role of a Career CourseRole of a Career Course

• Focuses you on strategic direction

• Outlines journey’s map

• Identifies tools to use while traveling

• Projects serve as written roadmap

Projects Are Driving VehiclesProjects Are Driving Vehicles

• Projects focus on portfolio creation

• What do your Network Partners need?

• Projects are intermediate journey stops

• Projects are building blocks

• Projects create your career portfolio

What Is a Career Portfolio?What Is a Career Portfolio?

• A repository for your competencies

• Competencies are your talents

• Employers regularly evaluate your competencies:

job interviews/job evaluations

• Projects support your competencies

• Interview info comes from your portfolio

What Are Competencies?What Are Competencies?

• Your VIPs

• Your technical talents

• Your soft skills (leadership/communication/organizing)

• Your attitude

• Interviewing techniques help identify your competencies

Why a Portfolio?Why a Portfolio?

• Establish early job search plans

• Review graduate study admission

• Prepare for job promotions

• Start future executive search planning

• Assess business loans (if entrepreneurial)

• Obtain quick access to information for career decision-making

Course ProjectsCourse Projects

• Stopping points on your journey

• Create foundation for future

• Build your toolbox project by project

• Culminates into your Career Portfolio

• Prepares for lifetime of career travel

Career Portfolio Project Career Portfolio Project

• Tactical plan to learn about careers

• Strategic plan to start life goal planning

• Final course exercise

Tactical Plan Tactical Plan

• Week by week of small written projects

• Discuss projects weekly with Career Counselor

• Flexibility (if needed)--Your needs dictate

• Projects oriented to personal interests

• Recommended tracks influence project choice

Portfolio Contents-1Portfolio Contents-1

• Selection résumés for classified ads, internet, job fairs, etc.

• Cover letters and other employment communications

• Networking resume illustrates competencies, not just history

• Official and unofficial course transcripts

Portfolio Contents-2Portfolio Contents-2

• Academic projects that identify research and writing abilities

• Course papers that illustrate analyzing and presentation abilities

• List of references including work, academic, and character

• List of networking partners who mentor you

Portfolio Contents-3Portfolio Contents-3

• Career test results that aid you in career decision-making

• Career option research/exploring options

• Employer research that enhances interview success

• Job descriptions of past and future positions

Portfolio Contents-4Portfolio Contents-4

• Interview preparation and techniques

• Situational background stories for

interviewing

• Interview presentations

• Practice interview results – mock interviews

Portfolio Contents-5Portfolio Contents-5

• Potential employer contact database

• Informational interview results

• Internship reviews

• Job performance evaluations

• Part-time job recognitions and responsibilities

Portfolio Contents-6Portfolio Contents-6

• Graduate study options

• Graduate study preparation results

• Graduate study applications

• Graduate study interview results

• Graduate study admission test results

Portfolio contents-7Portfolio contents-7

• Career and life goal development

• Career assessment results

• Psychological test results

• Salary reviews and assessments

• Job choice analysis

Portfolio Content Is Future OrientedPortfolio Content Is Future Oriented

• Resume: Short concise background summary

• Networking resume: Broader picture of talents and competencies

• Portfolio: Collection of supporting information

Class ProjectsClass Projects

• Over 20 choices

• Read each concise description

• Plan to complete at least 8 projects

• Choose the most useful projects

• Modify, if needed, with CC Career Counselor input

Project SelectionProject Selection

• Choose from Project List

• Choose only projects that are potentially useful to you

• Review a least one project each week that you think might be helpful

• Anticipate actually using your collection of projects

Your Final PresentationYour Final Presentation

• Each project forms your portfolio content

• Reorganize and enhance past projects

• Present your competencies

• Create a 10-minute equivalent presentation using MS word

• Projects form your presentation outline

• Your Career Portfolio is your final examination

Your Career PlanYour Career Plan

• Choose projects from list

• Discuss additional choices with your Career Center Career Counselor staff

• Write at least one sentence for each project to confirm your plan

• “I choose this project because….”

Your Semester PlanYour Semester Plan

• Do it now and plan wisely• Read syllabus carefully• Review textbook• Look to future• Take your plan to your CC counselor• Review your plan as semester progresses• Consult your syllabus for details

•If you would like to If you would like to learn more, learn more, Career Career Planning Planning StrategiesStrategies textbook will supply textbook will supply additional additional information on this information on this topic.topic.