Name:______

UNIV 1301 Career Planning Worksheet

Career goal or dream: ______

  1. a. What are your greatest career-relatedsuccesses and accomplishments up to now?
  1. What do you love most about the career field you identify with or want to enter?
  2. What inspires you to want to work in this area?
  3. Do you have any friends or family members in this field or profession?
  4. What kind of things (like writing, orleading and organizing people) can you do effortlessly?
  5. Make a realistic picture of what you will actually be doing day-to-day on the job.
  6. What aspect of working in this area is least attractive or most scary to you?
  7. What internships,jobs, volunteer work or projects have you done that are related to this career?
  1. a. What kinds of settings do you like picturing yourself in? Is it an office at a company, in a government agency, a hospital or clinic, or at a school or academic institution; indoors, outdoors, or in a lab?

Settings:

  1. Do you want to work in a profit-driven private enterprise, in a private, non-profit organization, or inthe public sector?
  1. How hard is it to actually get into this profession? Can anyone with a degree easily get a job? Or is it competitive? Are they recruiting and begging for applicants, or do you have to be the very best to get one of the few jobs that are available in that field?
  1. Do youknow anyone at allwho is currently working in that career? Whom?
  2. When is the last time he or she applied for a job in that field?
  1. Consider your own work style and personality. Would you rather be part of a team, or work mostly on your own, meeting occasionally with colleagues?
  1. Are you comfortable with the stress, hours and working conditions that the job requires?
  2. Would you enjoy teaching others, mentoring, supervising or management as everyday responsibilities?
  3. How much autonomy or structure do you need? Could you work by yourself with no supervision or instructions? Or, do you need someone else to supervise you?
  1. Look at external factors:Time management.How significant is family time, or an easy commute?
  2. Location: Where are most of the jobs in this field? Will you have to move, and are you willing to do so if necessary?
  1. Will your degree be completely “portable” anywhere you want or need to go, or will you have to take extra training or certification to work in another state or region?
  1. How big a priority to you is job security, or do you see yourself jumping from job to job to get ahead?
  2. How might future changes affect your profession? If the economy goes bad would you likely face layoffs, business failure or unemployment? Why or why not?

f. Will simply having a four-year degree be enough for you to walk right in to a job? Or will you need a graduate degree?

g. What will give you the extra “plus” that will get you a job in that area (or admission to a competitiveprofessional school or graduate program)? An internship or experience? A “godfather” or “godmother” who can sponsor you in? Enough capital to set up your own business or private practice? Or in your field are theyactively recruiting and begging for new graduates?

My extra “plus:”

  1. a, What are the existing student organizations on campus in your field?

b. Are you a member yet? If not, why not?

c. What are the most important national professional associations in your field?

d. Are you a student member of any of these national professional groups? If not, why not?

  1. a. What are the most important journals, periodicals and professional publications in your field?

b. Do you already subscribe to or regularly read one or more these journals online or in the Library? If not, why not?

c. What is the most important website with news and updates in your field?

  1. a.What are the major annual student conferences and professional conventions in your field?
  1. What plans to you have to attend a regional or national student or professional conference or convention in your field? (If none, why not?)

Plans:

  1. A. Do you currently have a professional mentor in your field (someone who can advise you and show you the ropes in the field?)

Y / N

  1. If so, whom? If not, who might be willing to become your professional mentor? (Preferably a professor in the field or someone who is working in that profession now.)
  1. Whattwo things can you do now to start doing professional networking and making more contacts in your career field?

c1.

c2.

Adapted from “It Pays To Plan: Why You Need A Career Map,” By Carol Milano