Summary O U T CO M E 1 Explain the concept of career preparation. Career preparation is a journey that differs from person to person. It includes learning to define the difference between a job and career and understanding how to create a well-developed career plan. Selecting a career involves choosing which career pathway is best suited to a person’s aptitudes, skills, abilities, and values, and then selecting an industry within it. O U T CO M E 2 State the purpose of a career plan. A career plan is documentation of where a person is today in the job-search process and where he or she would like to be in two to four years. It is a road map to accomplish those goals and should be reviewed and updated at least twice a year. O U T CO M E 3 Discuss the importance of self-assessment as a step in career planning. Self-assessment is an important aspect of career planning because it allows a person to focus a career search to industries that match his or her aptitudes, abilities, personality, and values. Conducting a self-assessment enables a person to focus on career direction and provides information about his or her natural aptitudes, abilit ies, personality, and values. O U T CO M E 4 Identify two types of personal skills that should be a part of a skills assessment. Two types of personal skills that should be evaluated as a part of a skills assessment are soft skills and hard skills. Soft skills are applicable skills used to help an individual find a job, perform in the workplace, and gain success in any job or career. Hard skills are measurable, observable, and critical skills necessary to perform required, work-related tasks of a position. O U T CO M E 5 Explain the purpose of setting SMART goals. The purpose of setting SMART goals is so a person can set achievable goals. Generic, vague goals are difficult to measure, but SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. By setting SMART goals, a person can better ground himself or herself in the reality of making an income after college graduation. O U T CO M E 6 Discuss career pathing options. Career pathing, not to be confused with career pathways, is a strategy an employee can use to determine personal career development. Career pathing options include earning a promotion, making a lateral move within the company, changing employers, or changing careers. O U T CO M E 7 Define a career portfolio. A portfolio is a compilation of materials that provide evidence of a person’s qualifications, skills, and talents. Showcasing examples of completed work or awards received is an effective way to communicate one’s qualifications when searching for a job. Glossary Terms ability aptitude career career ladder career lattice career plan emerging occupations Government of Canada Job Bank hard skills job keywords personality portfolio skill SMART goal soft skills values Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 15 Chapter 1 Preparing for Your Career