Peak Performance:
Success In College And Beyond

Chapter 14: Explore Majors And Careers

Chapter Objectives

      Explore majors and careers

      Determine your values, interests, abilities, and skills

      Assemble a portfolio for career development

      Adapt to workplace trends

      Always practice good business ethics

Success Principle 14

Focus on ACCOMPLISHMENTS, not entitlement.

Connecting School And Job Success

Exploring and Choosing a Major

        Assess yourself

        Meet with a career counselor at your school

        Talk with your support system

        Explore through college classes

Connecting School And Job Success

        Explore through the course catalog

        Go to the academic department

        Take classes or workshops

        Gain experience

        Be creative with your major

        Relax and reflect

Connecting School And Job Success

     Values

     Interests

     Abilities

     Skills

Connecting School And Job Success

Exploring Careers

  Career center

  Library

  Professional organizations

  Your network

  Government organizations

Building A Career Development Portfolio

Your career development portfolio helps you

  Plan and design your educational program and postgraduate learning

  Record significant life experiences

  Describe how your experiences have helped you grow professionally

Building A Career Development Portfolio

  Document skills and accomplishments in and out of the classroom

  Provide links between what you can do and what an employer is looking for in a candidate

  Apply patterns of interests, skills, and competencies to career planning

 

Building A Career Development Portfolio

  Identify areas you want to enhance, augment, or improve

  Record and organize experiences for your resume and job interviews

  Express talents creatively and artistically

  Justify college credit for prior learning, military, internship, or life experiences

  Prepare for a job change

 

Building A Career Development Portfolio

 

When Should You Start Your Portfolio?

  The sooner the better

  Make copies of papers or other coursework

Building A Career Development Portfolio

How to Organize and Assemble Your Portfolio

  Three-ring notebook

  Sheet protectors to hold documents and work samples

  Labels and tabs

  Box to store work samples and information

Building A Career Development Portfolio

Elements of Your Portfolio

  Cover or title page

  Contents page

  Introduction

  List of significant life experiences

Building A Career Development Portfolio

  Analysis of accomplishments

  Inventory of skills and competencies

  Inventory of personal qualities

  Documentation

  Work philosophy and goals

  Resumé

Building A Career Development Portfolio

  Samples of work

  Summary of transcripts

  Credentials, certificates, and workshops

  Bibliography

  Appendix

  Portfolio cover letter

Building A Career Development Portfolio

Overcome the Barriers to Portfolio Development

  Its a lot of work

  I wouldnt know where to start

  I dont have the time

  Ill do it when Im ready for a job

  I dont have enough work samples

Planning The Job Hunt

Submitting a Cover Letter

  It is a written introduction

  It should state the job you are applying for

  It should state what you can contribute to the company

Planning The Job Hunt

Interviewing

         Be punctual

         Be professional

         Dress appropriately

         Learn about the company

Planning The Job Hunt

         Learn about the position

         Relate your experience to the job

         Be honest

         Focus on how you can benefit the company

         Be poised and relaxed

Planning The Job Hunt

         Maintain comfortable eye contact

         Practice interviewing

         Anticipate question types

         Close the interview on a positive note

         Send a thank-you letter

         Determine whats next

Workplace Trends

Formal training in

  Technology

  Grant writing

  Financial planning

  Technical skills

Workplace Trends

  Report writing

  Alcohol and other drug abuse

  Sexual harassment

  Cultural and gender diversity

  Team building

Workplace Trends

  Time and stress management

  Communication

  Motivation

  Negotiation

  Conflict resolution

Business Ethics

Each employee must

 

  Make decisions based on moral values and good conscience

  Follow the code of ethics provided by his or her industry

Peak Performance:
Success In College And Beyond

Chapter 14: Explore Majors And Careers