In addition to the many excellent career counselors and advisers, modern-day job seekers often make use of a career planning system to help them move in the right direction. These systems vary quite a bit, ranging from skill assessment and interest testing to personality analysis and education searches. But most, if not all, have one goal – helping the applicant or job seeker find a rewarding position without a lot of wasted time and effort.
Some entries in the career planning system are excellent products from private companies. For a fee, these programs can help job hunters identify their real interests and passions, as well as help determine the skills the individual has to offer. A percentage of these companies have systems that can be shipped to the individual for use at home. The package may contain workbooks, CDs, videos or DVDs. Included in the package will be detailed guidelines for self-study and self-assessment.
Other companies offer their career planning system as a Web-based, interactive program. The fee is usually paid by credit card or other electronic method. Many of these contain similar information, assessment tests, career explanations and so on, just as with the printed material mentioned above.
In addition to the private-company plans, a university may offer its own career planning system, aimed at those who want to explore different fields of work or want to change occupations. However, the university plans will also have extensive information and assessment material designed for those choosing a college-to-career path. These can be an excellent activity for recent high school graduates and community college graduates.
A perfect partner to the formal career planning system should include a less-formal, self-designed "system." This plan should definitely include attendance at one or more career day events. As you prepare for these, keep in mind that professional appearance is quite important. In addition to giving some thought to the clothes that will be worn, a visit to a career day event should always include some research into the employers who will be present at the event. While it may not be productive to spend a lot of time on all the details, more information is generally better than none or too little. Representatives will remember those who have solid knowledge of the business that may be their employer for life.
One of the items in every career planning system should be an organized, complete resume. Always have more than one copy available. Don't be caught without a resume, in a situation that could open doors to a new career. As part of the resume tool, plan to submit your resume by electronic means (email, Web site). Many experts in the career-planning field note that a few employers discourage paper resumes. Computer access and familiarity with electronic communication are important parts of a career planning system.
Career planning means, to a great degree, choosing the path you want to take through life. The work you do to earn a living affects you not only financially, but also emotionally, psychologically and physically. It is therefore important that you give serious attention to career planning. That is especially true when you consider that many career opportunities available to people today did not even exist a few years ago, and more new fields are opening up all the time.
Career planning means having a clear understanding of the vocabulary of careers.
Look at the following words:
• Employment
• Position
• Job
• Occupation
• Career
At a glance they all seem to mean pretty much the same thing. However, there are subtle differences. A machine operator in a factory and the manager of a financial institution both have employment, but the manager would be much more likely to refer to his work as a position.
When you become involved in career planning it is also important that you become familiar with these terms:
• Career development
• Career management
• Career counseling
• Career guidance
Each of these is a step in a systematic approach to ensuring that you find the career that is best for you, and advance through that career in a way that is satisfactory to you. In career planning you assess your own planning ability. You identify long-term goals and short-term goals. You make decisions, and evaluate your own flexibility, adaptability and resilience. These are going to be very important to you when it comes to meeting challenges. In the career planning process you take stock of your own personal management skills. This will involve lifestyle decisions, job-survival skills, interpersonal skills, role integration and work-leisure integration. Career planning also means having good personal marketing skills. Can you identify your skills and strengths? Do you know how to conduct an effective job search? What kind of an image do you project? Are you good at selling yourself? Is there anything you can do to make yourself more marketable? In career planning it is important that you are aware of what kinds of opportunities are out there. You must investigate labor market trends and find out about training opportunities. In all probability you are going to have more than one job or position during your working years. By using a well thought out career planning approach, you have a better chance of making each employment change a step forward. You will accumulate skills and experiences, and make yourself an increasingly productive and marketable individual.
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