Focus on Your Career OVERVIEW Think about it. The average person spends at least 30 percent of his or her time each day at work. Finding a career that will satisfy you in your work life is probably high on your list of priorities. The first step in the career-search process starts with career planning. Career planning begins with conducting a self-assessment to evaluate your aptitudes, skills, abilities, and values. Through this assessment, you can focus your energy on what is necessary for you to accomplish in order to become a successful candidate for employment. Once your assessment is complete, you will be ready to set goals and create a plan that can move you closer to your chosen career. Preparing for Your Career 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 Defi ne a career portfolio. CONNECT TO YOUR CAREER Workplace 1-1 Emerging Occupations 1-2 Career Plan 1-3 Aptitudes Inventory 1-4 Abilities Assessment 1-5 Values Assessment 1-6 Skills Inventory 1 CHAPTER 2 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. t l li h i d t b f l you t o acc ompl li sh in orde r to becom e a succes sful Security Before using the Internet, become acquainted with the security settings and features of your browser. First, look for a menu called Tools, Settings, or something similar. Within this menu, locate your web browser’s security features, sometimes called Internet options, Privacy settings, or Security. Change your settings to protect your computer and your information. Enabling a pop-up blocker prevents your web browser from allowing you to see pop-up ads, which often contain malware. If your computer or mobile device has a built-in web camera, consider 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-or-h ized users, essentially gaining access to a live stream of your day-to-day life.. Back up Your Computerrpositivecommer-ayour An important part of a security plan is backing up the data on your computer. If a virus invades your computer or the hard disk crashes, it may be too late to retrieve your files and computer programs. Having a backup can prevent losing files.. Put a plan in place to perform regular back-ups. Decide on a storage device and method for backing up your files. Place the backup in a fireproof container and store it at a location other than your home, if possible.. Career PortfolioConnection Testimonials. A testimonial 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. 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 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 wrote might say, “Research paper, Professor Dansby, commenting on my writing skills.” 2. Search through recent employer evaluation forms have kept. If have evaluations that are appropriate, them. michaeljung/Shutterstock.com Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.. 93 Chapter 6 Protecting Your Identity Connect to Your Career will help students jump- start their futures in the competitive work envi- ronment of the 21st century. The unique approach of seamless integration of technology and social media presents content in a format that is clear, to the point, and realistic for the job-search process. The easy-to-read style and meaningful applica- tions introduce behaviours 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 noted within the content to indicate the appropri- ate time to complete each one. Career Portfolio Career Portfolio activities provide guidance for creating a portfolio to use when exploring career opportunities. This process requires reflection on personal accomplishments and skills as students create documentation for final presentation. Com- pleting this activity will help students prepare a pro- fessional product for the job-application process. What Employers Want This special feature explores essential soft skills needed in today’s workplace. Soft skills are the employability skills that help an individual find a job, perform in a job, and gain success in a career. S ecurity S etting B efore usin g the Internet, become acquainted with t he security settin gs and features of your browser. F irst , look for a menu called T oo ls , S ettings , or somet hingwant simi lar. Wit hin t h is menu, l ocat e your web browser’s securit y features, sometimes called I nternet options , Pri vacy settings , or S ecurit y . Ch an ge your settin gs to protect your computer an d your information. Enablin g a pop-up block err p revents your w eb browser from allowin g you t o see pop-up ads , which often contain malware. I f your computer or mobile device has a built-in web camera, consi der keeping it covere d or d eactivate d when not in use. Even if they are not actively being used, th ese cameras can b e accesse d remote ly b y unaut ized users, essentially gaining access to a live stream o f your d ay-to- day life B ac k up Your Compute A n important part o f a security plan is backing up the d ata on y our computer. If a virus invades y our compute r o r t h e h ar d d isk cras hes, it may b e too l ate to retrieve y our files and computer prog rams. Havin g a backup c an prevent losing files Put a plan in place to perform reg ular back-ups. D ecide on a storage device and method for backing up y our files. Place the backup in a fireproof container an d s tore it at a location other than your home, if possible employer that might be competitive with the company for which you are applying for a job. 1. Sort th roug h testimonia ls th at you h ave coll ecte d. Incl u de assignments th at h ave an instructor’s written c omments about your work. Print any e-mails f rom instructors, community members, or other profprofessionals essionals that complemented your actions on something you did f or that person. Attach notes to each document to i denti fy wha t it is and why it is included in th e portfolio. For e xample , a note on a rese arch p aper yyou ou w rote might say, “Research paper, Prof essor Dansby, commenting on my writing skills. ” 2. Search through recent emplopersonal yer evaluation forms yyou ou have ke p t. If yyouthe ou have evaluations that are appropriate,Itinclude include the m. C opyright G oodheart-Willcox C o., Inc Step four: State your motivations for your career direction. It may be that you to inspire others through teaching or learn all you can about technology so you can make a future career decision. Step five: Write your elevator speech. As you summa- rize the material, remember that your brand statement is your guiding force. Figure 3-2 illustrates the narra- tive for a 30-second commercial. Notice that the first column shows a personal brand statement that is used as the basis for the commercial. 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 personal commercial. Rehearsing cial will help you achieve the goal of making impression on the person with whom you are speaking. If your commercial is not polished and ready to present, a career opportunity can be missed. Begin by practicing in front of a mirror and rehears- ing your speech. Do not read your commercial word- for-word even while you are practicing. The goal is to make the interaction conversational and comfort- able for the person with whom you meet. Time your commercial and remember to keep it within 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 workplace. 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 successful career. Settingss 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 vi