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.

Read more...
Previous
Previous

10 Top Tips for Selecting the Right Career Test & Career!

Next
Next

Tweet Future Goals - Merging Social Media and Career Development