Career Planning Life Cycle

There are three steps in achieving career goals and searching for a job. 

Step One: Get a Clear Career Goal

The first step in search for a job is setting a career goal. 

In order to set a career goal, you have to take inventory of yourself to determine what you can offer an employer. 

You need to –

• Build awareness, knowledge and understanding of our strengths, interests, abilities, and skills
• List your ambitions, values, education, and experiences
• Determine your job preferences –job duties, salary, geographic location, and work conditions

Step Two: Explore Career Options

In order to identify potential careers, you may use career exploration and social media resources to gather the following occupational information –

• Labor market
• Work industries
• Companies, organizations, or agencies
• Specific careers

Use online career exploration resources to identify potential careers.

Step Three: Overcome Career Roadblocks

When you are trying to reach a career goal, there will always be obstacles.  You solve career problems by completing the following steps –

• Identify educational and career planning obstacles
• Create solutions or courses of action
• Set achievable goals
• Resolve conflicts
• Commit to reach our goals

Step Four: Execution

You execute your career plans when you use different strategies –

• Reality testing
• Social Media
• Job Search Strategies – Resume Writing and Interview Preparation

Reality Testing
While implementing and, you translate vocational interests, abilities, and skills into job opportunities. You do reality testing by implementing a variety of strategies.


Social Media and Networking Tools

Networking can help you complete targeted job searches.  You can use a variety of social media tools to learn and connect with professional associations and potential employers. Three major networking social media tools are –

• Twitter
• Linkedin
• Facebook

Resume Writing and Interviewing Strategies

Resume writing and interview preparation are essential skills needed to land a potential job.


Types of resumes are –

• Chronological – listing experiences in reverse chronological order
• Functional – emphasizing specific skills

Interviewing

There are steps to prepare for a successful interview -

• Review common interview questions
• Prepare for behavior or STAR interviews
• Practice - Practice is essential for a successful interview.
• Dress for success

The Career Planning Life Cycle is used with a variety of career tests.

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