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Tools for Career Exploration

Presented By

Ebony Hogan, M.Ed CRC, CFLE

Career Center

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Tools for Career Exploration

Self-Assessment of Interests and Personalities • Likes/

dislikes, past work experiences (pos. /neg.)

• Hobbies• Dream

Jobs • TAKE

ASSESSMENTS

Explore Career Options • Do a “Reality

Check” of wants, needs, and what’s realistic for where you are now in life

Gain / Maintain Skills

• Be willing to do what it takes to be a highly qualified candidate in your field

Find A Job • Learn the best

methods for job search in your field and search like it’s a full-time job

• Only apply to jobs you are qualified for

Manage Your Career • Learn ways to

keep the job you find for as long as you want to keep it

• If you have other plans, develop a C.A.P and stick to it!

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Career Planning Inventory

Phase I: Assessments, Values

Phase II: Possible Careers

Phase III: Setting Achievable Goals

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The Party

Who would you socialize with?

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Holland Code + Work Clusters (Interests)

DATA - PEOPLE – THINGS - IDEAS

Realistic Investigative

Artistic

SocialEnterprising

Conventional

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Overview

Holland Codes are: • Personality types

(developed by psychologist John L. Holland’s theory of career choice)

• Types are broken down into the RIASEC job environments

• Outcome: Personality/Environment Match

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Holland/SDS Code• Fill in your Holland/SDS Code on the Career

Planning Inventory.– Resulting 3 Letter Code with several

combinations can be used to search for matching occupations:• Example:

– Original Code: RIA– Mix it up and search alternate codes:

» RAI » IAR» IRA» ARI» AIR

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Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (Abbreviated Assessment)

What ‘s your work personality?

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Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (Personality)

Table of Types

ISTJ ISFJ INFJ INTJ

ISTP ISFP INFP INTP

ESTP ESFP ENFP ENTP

ESTJ ESFJ ENFJ ENTJ

INTROV.

EXTROV.

SENSING INTUITIVE

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Overview

Psychological Preferences

ExtrovertSensingPerceivingJudging

• Originated by Carl Jung’s typological theories (questionnaire), the MBTI is a personality inventory developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers to measure psychological preferences of how people perceive the world and make decisions.

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MBTI/JUNG TYPOLOGY• Fill in your TYPOLOGY on the Career Planning

Inventory.– Resulting 4 Letter Typology can be used to search

for matching occupations:• Example:

– Typology: ESTJ– Popular Occupations:

» Auditor» Insurance agent» Librarian» Secretary» Sales Representative

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Skills

Select 5 skills (hard and/or soft) that you want to use in your next job. Example: NegotiationCustomer Service Oriented AccountingSalesOrganizationMultitask

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Work Values

Select 5 work values that are most important to you. Example:

Flexibility, Benefits, PayLocation, Perfect SupervisorOngoing Training, Team SpiritIndependence, Rewards/IncentivesOpportunity for Growth

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Life Values

Select 5 life values that are most important to you. Example: FamilyFriendsPersonal SpaceReligion / Church

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Developing a Plan

• Goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timed– Include both short-term and long-term goals with

back-up plans– Set deadlines and quantify them

• Research careers– Online and print materials– Informational interviewing– Job shadowing

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Research

Online:–www.cuyahogalibrary.org

• Research, Subject Areas, Career Information Page, click on:

Career InformationCareer Planning/AssessmentPremium Career Electronic Resources

» OCIS (Ohio Career Information System) Research

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Research

Print:• Occupational Outlook Handbook• Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational

Guidance• Dictionary of Occupational Titles• At the Career Center, explore the large selection

of individual books covering hundreds of occupations

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Research

Informational Interview:• Ask 3-5 professionals from each career of

interest to answer questions regarding their jobs• Come prepared with questions• Formal or informal interview• Do NOT ask for a job at that time• Send a thank you letter

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Research

Job Shadow:• Ask to shadow a professional from a career you are

considering (typically for ½ a day)• Ask about, and adhere to, dress code• Come prepared with a pen and small notepad• Be prepared to be introduced to employees• Send a thank you letter

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To change or not to change Careers

• Troubleshoot your dissatisfaction– External: Personalities? Duties? Culture? Security? Wages?

Outlook? Physical environment?– Internal: Do you continuously need new challenges? Are you

experiencing other life changes that affect your job satisfaction?

• Continue to set achievable goals for yourself– In some cases, happiness is a conscious choice we make

and work towards everyday. • What can you change in a positive way? • What do you need to accept if you decide to continue on your

current career path or change?

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“Be absolutely determined to enjoy what you do.” -Sarah Knowles Bolton

Explore, Explore, Explore!

Don’t confuse having a career with having a life.” -Hillary Clinton

“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.” -Maya Angelou

“Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.” -Henry Ford