Putting Your Career in Motion through

Goals & Actions Kathryn Scahill NCC, DCC

Process & Deliverables

•Exploration & Research

•Decision Making

•Goal Setting

•Career Action Plans

Exploration Values

• Work/life balance, room for growth, ability to lead groups and make decisions, adequate compensation, commute time, nature of the company/product

Interests

• Working with numbers, art/design, hands-on work, idea development

Skills

• Communication, technical, problem solving, working in teams, adaptable

Personality

• Outgoing, likes a challenge, prefers independence

Market Research

Industries

• Healthcare, education, technology

Employers

• AT&T, Google, Chase

Jobs

• Accountant, teacher, financial analyst, programmer

Decision Making & Reality Check • Do your career plans align with the job market?

• Can you meet your goals in your current location?

• Is your current degree program right for your desired career?

• Have you researched salaries?

• Do you know your skills gaps and how to address them?

SMART Goals

Specific Goals

• Gain internship experience in a banking or finance setting

• Complete my degree by (date)

• Earn a minimum of 3.2 GPA

• Conduct research on top 3 industries and top 6 companies

• Review job postings to determine any skills gap

Measurable Goals • Where do you want to be in: 6 month / 1 year / 5 years / 10

years? Consider type of jobs will help you attain your personal and professional goals.

• Conduct one informational interview each month

– Ask each contact for a referral

• Increase LinkedIn contacts by 25-30 people every 6 months

• Apply to (x number) of jobs this month

• Conduct in-depth research one employer/industry/job or city each month

• Find a contact in one of those areas in LinkedIn

Attainable Goals • Begin an entry level position, plan to work towards a

promotion within the first year • Strive for continuous improvement on the job by

engaging in professional development, and asking for regular evaluations

• Volunteer at least once per year for special projects

Personal example – goal is to run a marathon. • Begin a running training program • Run 2-3 times per week • Join a local running club

Relevant Goals • Gain leadership skill on the job by asking for

increased responsibilities

• Participate in community organizations to gain additional skills in financial management (e.g. Treasurer of PTA)

• Take a course in project management

• Join at least one professional organization

• Evaluate continued education options

Advanced degree

certification

Time Bound Goals • Begin applying for 3 jobs per week, starting January 1. • In December, ask current professors or internship

employers to be employment references. • Beginning November 1, Update LinkedIn profile to reflect

status, begin weekly status updates to contacts

Next Steps • How can you reward yourself for meeting your goals? • Who will you share this with? • Develop your Action Plan

Developing an Action Plan

Action Plan What – Job Search Checklist

How – Multifaceted Approach

Who – identified employers and contacts

When – use your SMART goals timeline

Job Search Checklist • Marketing Materials: Prepare your

documents • Resume and Cover Letter

• Writing Sample

• References

• Order Transcripts (as needed)

• Organize a Job Search System • Keep records of employers to whom you sent resumes, contacts,

research on potential employers

Job Search Checklist, Cont. • Make a list of Contacts.

– Family, friends, acquaintances, fellow students, professors, and other professionals.

– Anyone who you can contact to help you in your search, either with leads, openings or information.

• Identify Resources for Job Postings. – Websites, newspapers, associations, professional newsletters, and other

sources of job postings.

• Prepare for Interviews. – Conduct mock interviews with your coach or with your friends.

– It is essential to practice!

Job Search: Multifaceted Approach • Conduct Informational Interviews.

– Gather information from your contacts, alums, and other persons in your field of interest.

• Attend Job/Career Fairs and Conferences. – At some job fairs, interviews are conducted on site. – You can also make new contacts and identify new employers of interest.

• Apply to Job Postings. – Use both online resources and print resources and apply to positions of

interest. • Network: Build and Maintain Your Contacts.

– Attend events, join www.LinkedIn.com, a professional networking site to expand, manage, and organize your network

– Keep in touch with your network and let them know how your search is progressing

• Volunteer - Build Your Skills – Consider volunteering in an industry of interest. Volunteer to staff or plan an

event. This is a great way to network without feeling like you are “using” people.

Managing the Search • Follow-up with employers and leads. The job search is an

on-going process. If you do not hear from an employer after 2 weeks of submitting your materials, call or email to find out about the status of your application. If your contacts have given you leads, investigate those leads and set up appointments for informational interviews.

• Write thank you notes and letters. After each interview, meeting, or lead received, be sure to send an email reiterating your interest in the position and thanking the interviewers.

• Continue to research employers. As you research employers and refine your search, remember to update your resume, cover letter, references and writing sample(s) as necessary.

Sample Job Search Log Action Step Tasks Time Needed Due Date

Goal 1

Goal 2

Goal 3

“A goal is a dream with a deadline.”

Napoleon Hill

Questions?