cus on Your Career
OVERVIEW
Think k about it. The average person spends at least
30 p percent of his or her time each day at work.
Find nding a career that will satisfy you in your work
life fe fe is probably high on your list of priorities. The
fi first st step s in the career-search process starts with
career e planning. r
Care reer planning begins with conducting a
self-assesss sment to evaluate your aptitudes, skills,
abilities, and nd values. Through this assessment, you
can focus your ur energy on what is necessary for
to l li h ii d t b f l
Preparing for fo
Your Careeer
Outcomes
1
Explain the concept of career preparation.
2
State the purpose of a career plan.
3
Discuss the importance of self-assessment
as a step in career planning.
4
Identify two types of personal skills that
should be a part of a skills assessment.
5
Explain the purpose of setting
SMART goals.
6
Discuss career pathing options.
7
CONNECT TO YOUR
CAREER
Workplace
1
CHAPTER
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
t l li h d t b f l you t acc ompl li sh in orde r to becom e a succes sful
p the
uter
Career
PortfolioConnection
Testimonials.
A testimoniall is a formal statement from a customer, client, or other
professional that certifies a person’s qualifications or character. Generally briefer
than a letter of recommendation, a testimonial focuses on a specific action a
person executed that was exceptional in nature. The person writing the testimonial
may not know you personally, but is validating the work or service you provided.
For example, if you work at a computer store and help a customer set up
a computer, the customer may be very happy with your work. That customer
may contact your supervisor through an e-mail with a testimonial that says,
“Justin was an outstanding technical support person. He was patient, set up
my computer, and helped me get started. I want to convey my appreciation
for his help.” Similar to letters of recommendation, testimonials validate claims
of abilities that you made in your résumé and portfolio. If your employer
forwards any positive written customer comments about you, save these for
inclusion in your portfolio.
You may also have testimonials from instructors who made complimentary remarks on a paper
you wrote or a project in which you participated. Your counselor may have sent you an e-mail with
congratulations on a personal accomplishment that you made. These are all testimonials that validate your
abilities.
Have you been the subject of a newspaper article that summarizes contributions, services, or
accomplishments you have made? This, too, is a testimonial of your skills and talents. Include newspaper
articles in which you are the subject.
You can also include employer evaluations in your portfolio. Evaluations serve as a snapshot of your
performance as an employee. They refl ect your work habits, strengths, and contribution to an employer.
If including an evaluation, be selective in the one you choose. Do not use one that is too old or from an
employer that might be competitive with the company for which you are applying for a job.
michaeljung/Shutterstock.com
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93
Chapter 6 Protecting Your Identity
you to accomplish in order to become a successful you t o acc ompl li sh in orde r to becom e a s ucces sful
ect to Your Career Co C nnec will help students jump- r
their futures in the competitive work envi- start ar t
ment of the 21st century. The unique approach ronm
seamless integration of technology and social of s
media presents content in a format that is clear, to me
the point, and realistic for the job-search process. th
The easy-to-read style and meaningful applica- T
tions introduce behaviors for successful interac-
tions while looking for the perfect career.
Outcomes
At the beginning of each chapter, a list of out-
comes guide student learning as they read the
material presented. Each outcome is aligned with
the content headings, as well as with the summary
at the end of the chapter. This alignment provides
a logical flow through each page of the material so
that students may build on individual knowledge
as they progress through the chapters.
Workplace Connection
A list of Workplace Connection activities provides
a preview of the personal self-assessment oppor-
tunities that appear at the end of each chapter.
This list serves as a tool to enable students to
plan accordingly for successful completion of
the assignments. In addition, these activities are e
noted within the content to indicate the appropri ri-
ate time to complete each one.
Career Portfolio
Career Portfolio activities provide guidan nce for
creating a portfolio to use when exploring ng career
opportunities. This process requires refle lection on
personal accomplishments and skills as as students
create documentation for final presenta tation. Com-
pleting this activity will help student nts prepare a
professional product for the job applica cation process.
What Employers Want
This special feature explores essential s soft skills
needed in today’s workplace. Soft skills are the
employability skills that help a an individual find a
job, perform in a job, and gain n success in a career.
Securityfuletting.s S
Before using the Internet, become acquainted with
the security settings and features of your browser.
First,motivationsa look for menu called Tools, Settings, or
similar. Withinotthis menu, locate your
browser’s security features, sometimes called
Internet options, Privacy settings, or Security.
Cheange your settings to protect your computer and
your Enabling a pop-up blockerr prevents
your web3-2 browser from allowing you to see pop-up
ads, which often contain malware.
If or mobile device has a built-in web
keeping it covered or deactivated
when not in use. Even if they are not actively being used,
these cameras can be accessed remotely by unauthor-
ized users, essentially gaining access to a live stream of f
your day-to-day life.
BacktheRegoal
up Your Computer
An importantom part of a security plan is backing up the
data on your computer. If a virus invades your compute r
or theehard ddisk crashes, it may be too late to retrieve
your files and computer programs. Having a backupc
can prevent losing files.
Put a plan in place to perform regular back-ups.u
Decide on a storage device and method for backing up
your files. Place the backup in a fireproof container and d
store it at a location other than your home, if possible.b
employer that might be competitive with the company for which you are applying for a job.
1. Sort through testimonials that you have collected. Include assignments that have an instructor’s written
comments about your work. Print any e-mails from instructors, community members, or other professionalsa
that complemented your actions on something you did for that person. Attach notes to document to
identify what it is and why it is included in the portfolio. For example, a note on a research paper you
wrote might say, “Research paper, Professor Dansby, commenting on my writing skills.”
2. Search through recent emplopersonal yer evaluation forms you have kept. If youthe have evaluations that are
appropriate,Itinclude them.
C opyright G oodheart-Willcox C o., Inc
Step four: State your for your career
direction. It may besomething t h at you want to inspire h ers
through teaching or
lweb
earn all you can ab out tec hnology
so you can make a future career decision .
Step five: Write your l evator speec h . As you summa -
rize the material, remem
binformation.brand
er that your statement
is your guiding force. Figure illustrates the narra -
tive for a 30-second commercial. Notice that the first
column shows a
personayour
l b
rancomputer
d statement th at is use d
as the basis for the cocamera,iaconsider mm erc l.
Complete 3-3 Personal Commercial, pg 51
CONNECT TO YOUR
CAREER
Rehearsing a Personal Commercial
In order to be prepared when an unexpected networking
opportunity presents itself, it is necessary to practice
your persona l commercial. hearsing your commer-
cial will help you achieve of making a positive
impression on the person with wh you are speaking.
If your commercial is not polished and ready to present,
a career opportunity can b misse .
Begin by practicing in front of a mirror and rehears -
ing your speec h. Do not read your commercial word-
for-word even while you are practicing. The goal is
to make the interaction conversational an d comfort -
able for the person with whom y ou meet. Time y our
commercia l and remem b er to kee p it wit hin 30 to
60 seconds.
When you are satisfied with the content and delivery
of your commercial, ask a friend or family member to
record you as you deliver it. Ask for feedback from your
listeners, and record it multiple times until you are sat-
isfied with the final product.
You may decide to post the final version of your com-
mercial to a website such as YouTube or Instagram. The
link to the video can then be added to your résumé,
e-mail, or portfolio.
A professional image is the image an individual projects in e
w orkplace. includes a person’s honesty, skills, courtesy, and respect for others.
A professional image is what people remember about a person they meet. It could
be as simple as the way in which a person greets another or the sincerity that is
shown in a conversation. Cultivating a professional image can pave the way for a
success career
What
Employers
Want
Personal Brand Statement Personal Commercial
A marketing professional who is dedicated to creating
jaw-dropping promotions.
I am Susan Roskowski, an assistant marketing product
manager current job title with a degree in marketing
communications from Baylor University. I am located in
the greater Houston area target geographical area
and looking for a career in an advertising agency
job title goal. My skills include writing promotions
that capture the attention of the target audience
based on their demographics hard skills required
for the job. I am proficient at ad creation and
social-media marketing. I am flexible and skilled at
working with others soft skills required for job.
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
FIGURE 3-2
A personal commercial is a rehearsed introduction that includes brief information about a person’s background
and a snapshot of his or her career goals.
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
44
Chapter 3 Personal Brandeach
h
m
p
u
rieve
g
employer that might be competitive with the company for which you are applying for a job.
to
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