5. Career Exploration Resources
– Focus 2 assessment
– Career specialist appointment
– Career Resource Library
– My Career Online
– Internet searches & sites e.g.MassCIS & O*Net
– Classes
– Networking/informational interviewing
– Career Services events with professionals
Explore
6. How Do You Get There?
“Input Your Location”
Use job descriptions to
create your career road
map
Prepare
7. How Do You Get There?
• Maximize experiential opportunities
• Attend career workshops
• Create resume & LinkedIn profile
• Build contact list on LinkedIn
• Learn how to write cover letter, interview, etc.
• Choose classes wisely & do your best. Maximize
opportunity and support resources
• Identify target employers and positions
• Network/informational interview to explore jobs &
make contacts
• Exhibit Professionalism
Prepare
9. Your Journey
• Develop strategies to search for jobs/internships which match YOU (and your resume)
including:
– UMass and industry specific job boards
– targeted employers
– Networking
• Polish interview skills
• Demonstrate professionalism - dress and act for success
• Use social media to your advantage to learn, network and promote your brand
• Expand and maintain your network
• Participate in career fairs, job shadows, and events
• Attend Career Services workshops
• Continue to maximize academic and experiential opportunities
Career specialists and the rest of your network can help you navigate this journey
Engage
11. Arrived at Your Destination
• Enjoy
• Remain connected
• Obtain experience
• Show professionalism
• Evaluate & identify next steps
• Pursue continuous learning & training
• Leverage UMass Career Services for lifelong
support
Transition
Editor's Notes
The 2014-2015 Office of Career Services Annual Report starts with the premise that Increasing the quality and quantity of opportunities for students to explore and define their career interests and connect these interests to their academic work increases the likelihood that they will be retained and graduate. The logic that follows is that the earlier we expose students to career management concepts, the better. This workshop could be used to address freshman classes, exposing them to the range of career services and the breadth of career development options, as well as the understanding that career development is a process that may cover a lot of changes over a lifetime.
I will switch gears, and my voice, from here on to reflect a presentation to students.
This presentation is a description of career development. Some people confuse that with job search, or think that career development only happens when they graduate or feel that doing well in their required academics is complete career development. In actuality, career management begins from the moment you start considering what you would like to do professionally. Just like using GPS, you need to first choose your destination, then choose your route, perhaps re-calculate your route, and finally arrive at your destination. This workshop will expose you to the Umass “My Career on Track” model covering the full spectrum of career management, from exploration, to preparation, to engagement to transition. In this increasingly diverse and global world, a little GPS, or Guidance for your Professional Strategy, is a good thing.
Let’s “proceed to the route”…
When choosing a journey, we make choices based upon interests, skills, values and personality…
Active, daring, cold, solo
Relaxing, calm, warm, companion…or more?
City or nature
Expensive or frugal
Vacation? If you hate the cold, risk taking, outdoors, you probably would very quickly turn down a skiing vacation, but instead investigate a warm tropical beach vacation….but which beach? Which country? What hotel? There are still lots of choices, even with a seemingly structured and narrow decision.
There might also be more than one right answer. Which is the best for you right now? Which might be better later? Or could you do both simultaneously?
so much more so with careers…
Job…Health professions/nursing…Feels like it’s narrowed down, but still need to look at your values, interests, and personality and skills. What type of environment do you like? Fast paced and ever changing, or stable and consistent? Do you like working in groups or directly with individuals? What type of people would you like to work with? Old, young, middle aged or all of the above? What skills do you want to use? Teaching? Dosing medicine? Checking people’s vitals? Serving as a listening ear? Assisting in a surgery?
Even within a major, you make intentional choices based upon your values, interests, personality and skills. Even with a declared major, you need to explore career options.
Networking/Informational Interviewing
Personal contacts
Professors
Students
Alumni
Professional Association Members
Campus Groups
Career Services Events Featuring Current Professionals
Career Fairs
Employer Information Sessions
Speakers
Job Shadows
Sometimes there are multiple routes and ways of getting there. Which way is right for you? Which classes? Which activities? Which practical experiences?
Maximize Experiential Opportunities
internship, student teaching, practicum, and field experience
Actively participate in campus groups and professional organizations
Attend Career Workshops
Create Resume and LinkedIn Profile
Structure using goal job descriptions
constantly changing
Build contact list on LinkedIn
Learn how to write cover letter, interview, etc.
Choose classes wisely and do your best. Maximize opportunity and support resources
Identify target employers and positions
Network/Informational Interview to explore jobs and make contacts
Stay connected to contacts
Professionalism is important - Be reliable, on time, a good team member. Your faculty and peers could ultimately be your colleagues and references. Show the best you.
Just like in the Waze app, other people up ahead of you might be able to guide you to avoid some challenges they’ve encountered, or at least prepare you for what’s up ahead. Networking is key to determining the best route for you. The situation is fluid.
Assess your route or need to “recalculate”
Assess your plan or need to “recalculate your route”
Develop strategies to search for jobs/internships which match YOU (and your resume) including:
industry and school specific job boards
targeted employers
Networking
Polish interview skills
Professionalism is still key – dress and act for success
Use social media to your advantage to learn, network and promote your brand
Expand and maintain your network
Identify and meet with a contact in each target employer
Participate in career fairs, job shadows, and events
Attend Career Services workshops
Continue to maximize academic and experiential opportunities
Career Specialists and the rest of your network can help you navigate these choices
Continue to travel to same destinations, they’re familiar, comfortable, and then you decide…it’s time for something new.
Continue to travel to same destinations, they’re familiar, comfortable, and then you decide…it’s time for something new. In other words, while you are at your job, you continue to “explore” your career to assess whether it continues to fit you values, interests, personalities and skills or whether an adjustment is in order. Careers are personal journeys, often with multiple destinations and routes. Sometimes detours turn into intentional destinations. Pay attention to your surroundings on your lifelong journey…and enjoy the ride!
