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Career PlanningPart 1November, 2012

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Agenda1. Why Careers Are Important2. How To Choose A Career3. The Key To Success4. What Questions To Ask The Mentors5. What To Look For In The Mentor’s Work

Environment6. What The Mentors Most Likely Will Ask You7. Q&A Session

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What Is A Career A field for or pursuit of consecutive

progressive achievement especially in public, professional, or business life <George Washington's career as a soldier>

A profession for which one trains and which is undertaken as a permanent calling <a career in medicine> <a career diplomat>

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Understanding Careers Do janitors have a career? Do garbage collectors have a career? Do roofers have a career? Do engineers have a career? Do dentists have a career? Do astronomers have a career? Do lab technicians have a career?

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Are All Careers Important? No, they are not. Some careers are

more important than others

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What Makes A Career Important and Meaningful? Salary and benefits Prestige Respect Recognition, honors Excitement Creativity Passion Alignment with one’s bliss

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Two Key Points The better the career, the better

life one will enjoy and the more money one will make

However, careers are NOT about money alone

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Students that have the

right attitude, knowledge and tools

have better careers

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Why People Should Be Pursuing Careers Better salaries Wealth Easy

Retirement Less Worries Better job security Better life Enjoying the journey of life Easier to build a family and keep it

together Improved self-respect Enhanced self-esteem

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The Problem There are way too many choices (over

4,000 careers/occupations to choose from). There are new jobs invented every year

There are a lot of misperceptions and misunderstandings pertaining to careers and the way one should go about pursuing them

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Did You Know … Of the 4,000+ occupations only 400 or

so (about 10%) of them are considered good career options?

Of the 400+ careers only 80 (about 20%) of them generate a “good” income?

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Key Realization One cannot choose a career if he/she

does not know his/her options

One cannot make the right decisions if he/she does not know him/herself and what turns him/her on

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So, What Turns You On?

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Key Messages Careers are NOT accidents or

miracles that occur by happenstance

Careers must be planned

Careers must fit one’s personality and bliss in life

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When One Has A Plan …

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The Key To Success

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Some Key Decisions Career or job? Willing to relocate or stay put? Willing to travel or avoid travel? Creative genius or process master? Generalist or Specialist? Manager or worker bee? Leader or follower? Big Fish in a small pond or little fish in a

Big Pond?

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Have You Considered These? What legacy will you leave behind?

What does greatness mean to you?

Do you have an outrageous and contagious purpose for your career?

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Interestingly Enough … Not too long ago people were happy to

just find a job and get paid. However, today people understand that there is more to life than a job and a steady paycheck. People want to enjoy the journey of life

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So, What Is

Important To You?

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Food for Thought Don’t you want to be paid for your

dream?

The ultimate goal: have fun doing what you like and get paid for it!!!

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Dying or Dead Professions Typists and data entry keyers Typesetters Software coders, computer operators Agriculture workers and farmers Cooks for fast food Postal Service clerks, carriers and sorters Highway toll booth attendants Photo processors

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Dying or Dead Professions Switchboard and phone operators Receptionists Sewing machine operators Factory workers, machine tool operators Assemblers Telemarketers Call center and customer service reps Repairmen (clocks, phones, TVs, etc.)

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Dying or Dead Professions Bank tellers Tellers and clerks of all types Cashiers Travel agents Teachers and professors Stage performers Holistic healers … and many more professions

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Key Realization Computers, computer software and

systems/systemization, hard automation, robots, artificial intelligence and the internet have changed our world forever

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Key Realization

It took 50,000+ years to get to this point

It took only 200 years to get to today’s

situation

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Did You Know … About 120 years or so ago, almost 95% of

the population were farmers? Today the number is only 3% and is shrinking

About 60 years ago, almost 45% of people worked in factories? Today, the number is about 10% and is shrinking

Yes, our society is changing!

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Other Factors That Affect Jobs Outsourcing Globalization Trade Treaties Economic stability and recessions Government regulations and policies Environmental and Conservation

movements Oil prices and other key commodity

prices Availability of resources

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Some Emerging Professions Data miners Knowledge managers and brokers Green jobs Sustainability professions New Technology jobs (i.e.:

nanotechnology and nanorobotics) New Communications jobs New Energy jobs

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Careers For Quiet People Accountants Data Base Administrators Coders/Programmers; Software

Developers Graphic Designers Writers; Poets Surveyors Researchers, Lab Technicians

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The Most Stable Jobs Are Found In These Industries: Health Care Communications Energy Transportation Food

Because the world needs and will always need

what they have to offer

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Great Advice

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Take time to meditate.It’s your future.

Put some thought and energy into it

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So, What Are Your Top Three Choices?

1. _____________________

2. _____________________

3. ______________________

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Other Key Points About Careers Today, it is very acceptable and actually

desirable, to make several career changes and go to different employers

Changing careers should only be done if they offer advancement and betterment (financial gains, promotions, visibility, etc.)

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Do You Need Help With These Questions?

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What Is Mentoring Mentoring is a developmental

partnership between a mentor and a student (mentee) through which the mentor shares her/his knowledge/wisdom, skills, information and perspective to foster the personal and professional growth of the mentee

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Advice For Life Always seek mentors throughout your

life

Some day become a mentor, help others

Note: Serving others is a noble and a great thing. It says a lot about you. The best leaders today are the servant leaders willing to coach, teach, train, mentor and push others to excel and reach higher levels of performance and existence

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What Questions To Ask Your Mentor(s) Why do you choose this profession? If you had to make your choice all over

again, would you still choose the same profession?

What is your next step? Is there a next step?

What are the things that you don’t like about your profession?

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What To Look For In The Mentor’s Work Environment # of employees working there # of direct reports (span of control) Organizational structure Who does the mentor report to? What special tools does he/she use at work? Who provides the tools? Where did he/she get the required training? How long did they go to school?

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What The Mentors Most Likely Will Ask You Why are you interested in this

job/profession? What excites you about this job/profession? Have you thought of … ? How high are you planning to reach for? Are you planning to go to college? Have you decided yet what college you are

going to attend?

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Your Choices With Us(see special handouts) Job Shadowing

Speed Date Your Career Gain Experience Confirm Your

ChoiceMake Connections

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