As with other personal financial decisions, career selection and professional
growth require planning. The average person changes jobs about seven times
during a lifetime.
The lifework you select is a key to your financial well-being and personal
satisfaction. You may select a job, an employment position obtained
mainly to earn money. Many people work in one or more jobs during their
lives without considering their interests or opportunities for advancement.
Or you may select a career, a commitment to a profession that requires
continued training and offers a clear path for occupational growth.
While many factors affect daily living habits and financial choices, your
employment situation probably affects them the most. Your income level,
business associates, and available leisure time are a direct result of the
work you do.
Like other decisions, career choice and professional development alternatives
have risks and opportunity costs. In recent years, many people in our society
have placed family values and personal fulfillment above monetary reward
and professional recognition. Career choices require periodic evaluation
of trade-offs related to personal, social, and economic factors. For example:
Some people select employment that is challenging and offers strong
personal satisfaction rather than employment in which they can make the
most money.
Some people refuse a transfer or a promotion that would require moving
their families to a new area or reducing leisure time.
In addition to formal career training, successful managers, employers,
and career counselors stress the importance of traits adaptable to most
work situations. While some of these traits can be acquired in school,
others require experiences in other situations. The traits that successful
people usually possess include
An ability to work well with others in a variety of settings.
A desire to do tasks better than they have to be done.
An interest in reading a wide variety of materials.
A willingness to cope with conflict and adapt to change.
An awareness of accounting, finance, and marketing fundamentals.
A knowledge of technology and computer software such as word processing,
spreadsheet, database, web search, and graphics programs.
An ability to solve problems creatively in team settings.
A knowledge of research techniques and library resources.
Well-developed written and oral communication skills.
An understanding of both their own motivations and the motivations
of others.
These competencies give people flexibility, making it easy to move from
one organization to another and to successfully change career fields.
How are you working to develop these traits?
Personal Factors
You might be able to identify a satisfying career using guidance tests
that measure your abilities, interests, and personal qualities.
Aptitude tests, interest inventories, and other types of career assessment
tests are available at school career counseling offices.
Aptitudes are natural abilities that people possess. The ability to
work well with numbers, problem-solving skills, and physical dexterity
are examples of aptitudes.
Interest inventories determine the activities that give you satisfaction.
These instruments measure qualities related to various types of work.
People with strong social tendencies may be best suited for careers that
involve dealing with people, while people with investigative interests
may be best suited for careers in research areas.
Test results will not tell you which career to pursue. They will only
give you an indication of your aptitudes and interests. Another important
dimension of career selection is your personality. Do you perform best
in structured or high-pressure situations, or do you prefer unstructured
or creative work environments? The financial aspects of the career are
also likely to be a concern.
Social Influences-various demographic and geographic trends influence
employment opportunities. Demographic trends affecting the job market
include the following:
An increase in the number of working parents expands the demand
for food service and child care.
An increase in leisure time among some segments of the population
results in an increased interest in personal health, physical fitness,
and recreational products and services.
An increase in the number of older people raises the demand for
travel services, health care, and retirement facilities.
An increased demand for additional employment training increases
career opportunities for teachers and trainers within business organizations.
Computer technology-systems analysts, computer operators, website
developers, network operations managers, and repair personnel and
service technicians for data processing equipment.
Health care-medical assistants, physical therapists, home health
workers, biotech analysts, laboratory technicians, registered nurses,
and health care administrators.
Business services-web consultants, foreign language translators,
employee benefit managers, operations consultants, and research data
analysts.
Social services-child care workers, elder care coordinators, family
counselors, and social service agency administrators.
Sales and retailing-web promotion producers, marketing representatives,
and sales managers with technical knowledge in the areas of electronics,
medical products, and financial services.
Hospitality and food services-travel agents, resort and hotel administrators,
food service managers, online customer service representatives, and
meeting planners.
Management and human resources-clerical supervisors, recruiters,
interviewers, employee benefit administrators, and employment service
workers.
Obtaining Employment Experience-a common concern among people seeking
employment is a lack of work experience. Many opportunities are available
to obtain work-related training.
Part-Time Employment Summer and part-time work can provide
experience along with the chance to see if you enjoy a particular career
field. The increased use of temporary employees has opened up opportunities
to obtain experience in many career areas. Part-time work may also be
of value for people who are changing careers and need experience in a
different career field.
More and more workers are
taking advantage of temporary job assignments as a channel to a full-time
position. The number of temporary employment services and "interim"
workers continues to increase. Working as a "temp" can give
you valuable experience as well as contacts in various fields of employment.
Further information may be obtained at the website of the national Association
of Temporary and Staffing Services (NATSS) at www.natss.org.
Volunteer Work Involvement in community organizations and
government agencies can provide excellent opportunities to acquire skills,
establish good work habits, and make contacts.
Internships. In very competitive fields, an internship will
give you the experience you need to obtain employment. During an internship,
you can make contacts about available jobs. Applying for an internship
is similar to applying for a job.
Campus Projects. Class assignments and campus activities
are frequently overlooked as work-related experience. You can obtain valuable
career skills on campus from experience in
Managing, organizing, and coordinating people and activities as an
officer or a committee chairperson of a campus organization.
Public speaking in class, campus, and community presentations.
Goal setting, planning, supervising, and delegating responsibility
in community service and class projects.
Financial planning and budgeting gained from organizing fund-raising
projects, managing personal finances, and handling funds for campus
organizations.
Library Materials Most school and community libraries have
extensive career information sources. The Occupational Outlook Handbook
covers all aspects of career planning and job search and provides detailed
information on jobs in various career clusters. Other helpful government
resources related to careers are the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and
the Occupational Outlook Quarterly.
Mass Media Career Information. Most newspapers offer articles
and columns about job searches and career trends. Newspapers, television
reports, and radio reports also provide useful information about economic
and social influences on careers. Changes in interest rates, consumer demand,
and foreign trade are good indicators of job availability in various career
areas.
World Wide Web. The Internet offers a variety of information
sources related to job opportunities, preparing a résumé,
interviewing, and other career planning topics.
Campus Placement Office. Your school probably has a career
planning and placement service. This office is likely to have materials
on various career planning topics and can assist you in creating a résumé
and preparing for an interview.
Community Organizations. Every community has business and civic
groups you can use in your career search. Public meetings featuring industry
leaders and business owners provide opportunities to become acquainted with
local businesspeople.
Professional Associations. Various professions have organizations
to promote their career areas.
Business Contacts. Professional contacts can advise you about
career preparation and job opportunities. Friends, relatives, people you
meet through community and professional organizations, and people you meet
through school, work, church, or other activities are all potential business
contacts.
Networking is the
process of making and using contacts to obtain and update career information.
Campus programs such as organizations, sports, and lectures can provide
valuable contacts. Every person you talk to is a potential career contact
who may provide career information or assistance. They
can help you get an informational interview, a meeting at which you
gather information about a career or an organization. When planning and
using informational interviews, consider the following:
Prepare a list of industries and organizations for which you would like
to work. Talk to family, friends, coworkers, and others for names of people
you might contact.
Prepare a list of open-ended questions that will help you obtain information
about current trends in the industry and potential employment opportunities.
Make an appointment for a 20-minute meeting; emphasize to the person
that the meeting is for information only.
Try to interact with the person at his or her place of work to gain
better awareness of the work environment.
Follow up with a thank-you note, and, if possible, send some information
(such as an article) that might be of interest to your contact.
Job Advertisements. Advertisements in newspapers and professional
periodicals can be valuable sources of available positions. For opportunities
in a specific career field, refer to specialized publications such as Advertising
Age, Marketing News, the Journal of Accountancy, and American Banker. Since
80 to 90 percent of available jobs are not advertised to the general public,
other job search techniques are critical.
Career Fairs. Career fairs, commonly held on campuses and at
convention centers, offer an opportunity to make contact with several firms
in a short time span. Be prepared to quickly communicate your potential
contributions to an organization.
Employment Agencies. Another possible source of job leads is
employment agencies. These for-profit organizations match job hunters with
prospective employers.
After researching a particular company or industry, present how your abilities
would contribute to that organization. Job creation involves developing
an employment position that matches your skills with the needs of an organization.
As you develop skills in areas you enjoy, you may be able to create a
demand for your services.
Other Job Search Methods
Commonly overlooked sources of jobs include the following:
Visit companies where you would like to work, and make face-to-face contacts.
Create an impression that you are someone who can contribute. Calling or
visiting before 8 a.m. or after 4 p.m. increases your chance of talking
to someone who is not busy.
Successful organizations continually look for quality employees. Telephone
and business directories can provide names of organizations that employ
people with your qualifications.
Many qualified people never get the job they deserve without a presentation of skills and experiences. This process usually involves three elements.
The résumé, a summary of education, training, experience, and qualifications, provides prospective employers with an overview of your potential contributions to an organization.
A cover letter is the correspondence you send with a résumé to communicate your interest in a job and to obtain an interview.
Before accepting a position, do additional research about the job and
the company. Request information about your specific duties and job expectations.
The Work Environment
Investigate the work environment. The term corporate culture refers
to management styles, work intensity, dress codes, and social interactions
within an organization.
Consider company policies and procedures for salary increases, evaluations
of employees, and promotions. Talk with current workers to obtain this
information.
Factors Affecting Salary
Your initial salary will be influenced by your education and training,
company size, and salaries for comparable positions. To ensure a fair
starting salary, talk to people in similar positions and check business
journals for information about salary levels.
Performance quality and work responsibilities are the main influences
on salary advances. Meet regularly with your supervisor to obtain performance
evaluations and suggestions for professional growth. Communicate your
desire for increased work responsibilities and greater financial rewards.
Evaluating Employee Benefits
Meeting Employee Needs-in recent years, nonsalary employee benefits have
expanded to meet the needs of different life situations. The increasing
number of two-income and single-parent households has resulted in a greater
need for child care benefits and leaves of absence to care for newborn children,
newly adopted children, and other dependents.
Other employee benefits designed to meet employees' needs include flexible
work schedules; work-at-home arrangements; legal assistance; counseling
for health, emotional, and financial needs; and exercise and fitness programs.
Cafeteria-style employee benefits are programs that allow workers
to base their job benefits on a credit system and personal needs. Flexible
selection of employee benefits has become common.
When matching dependent health care needs and medical insurance plans,
consider the following:
Types of services available and location of health care providers.
Direct costs (insurance premiums) to you.
Anticipated out-of-pocket costs (deductibles and coinsurance amounts).
Comparing Benefits Two methods used to assess the monetary
value of employee benefits are market value calculations and future value
calculations.
Market value calculations determine the specific monetary value of employee
benefits-the cost of the benefits if you had to pay for them.
Employees have legal rights both during the hiring process and on the
job. For example, an employer cannot refuse to hire a woman or terminate
her employment because of pregnancy, nor can it force her to go on leave
at an arbitrary point during her pregnancy. In addition, a woman who stops
working due to pregnancy must get full credit for previous service, accrued
retirement benefits, and accumulated seniority. Other employment rights
include the following:
A person may not be discriminated against in the employment selection
process on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, marital status,
national origin, or mental or physical disabilities.
Minimum-wage and overtime pay legislation apply to individuals in certain
work settings.
Communicating and working well with others will enhance your chances for
financial advancement and promotion. Flexibility and openness to new ideas
will expand your abilities, knowledge, and career potential.
Develop efficient work habits. Use lists, goal setting, note cards, and
other time management techniques. Combine increased productivity with quality.
All of your work activities should reflect your best performance. This extra
effort will be recognized and rewarded.
Finally, learn to anticipate problems and areas for action. Creativity
and a willingness to assist others can help the entire organization and
contribute to your work enjoyment and career growth.
Training Opportunities
Many technology-work situations did not exist a few years ago. Many
of the job skills you will need in the future have yet to be created.
Your desire for increased education is a primary determinant of your career
success and financial advancement. Continue to learn about new technology
and the global economy.
Various methods for updating and expanding your knowledge are available.
Formal methods include company programs, seminars offered by professional
organizations, and graduate and advanced college courses.
Informal methods for updating and expanding your knowledge include reading
and discussion with colleagues.
As with other financial decisions, career choices must be reevaluated
in light of changing values, goals, economic conditions, and social trends.
A successful technique for coping with the anxieties associated with
career development is to gain the support of an established person in
your field. A mentor is an experienced employee who serves as a
teacher and counselor for a less experienced person in a career field.
Your efforts to attract a mentor start with excellent performance. Show
initiative, be creative, and be alert to meeting the needs of others.
Maintain visibility and display a desire to learn and grow by asking questions
and volunteering for new assignments.
At some time in their lives, most workers change jobs. People change
jobs to obtain a better or different position within the same career field
or to move into a new career field. Changing jobs may be more difficult
than selecting the first job.
The following may be indications that it is time to move on:
Low motivation toward your current work.
Physical or emotional distress caused by your job.
Consistently poor performance evaluations.
A lack of social interactions with coworkers.
Limited opportunity for salary or position advancement.
Every business must present its product or service to potential customers
in an effective manner. In the same way, you must market yourself to prospective
employers by developing a résumé, creating a letter to obtain
an interview, and interviewing for available positions.
Résumé Elements-a résumé is a summary of your
education, training, experience, and other job qualifications. This personal-information
sheet is vital in your employment search. The main components of a résumé
are as follows.
Three commonly used types of résumés are the chronological
résumé, the functional résumé, and the targeted
résumé.
The chronological résumé
The functional résumé
The targeted résumé
E-résumés, used when applying for a job online, should consider
the following factors:
Keep the format simple; avoid bold type, underline, italics, and tabs.
Do not use attached files that may be difficult to open or decipher.
résumés posted on an Internet database may be viewed by
your current employer, whom you may not want to know about your job search.
An Internet résumé is less personal than a printed one
or a phone call; over 90 percent of jobs are found offline through ads,
job fairs, and networking.
Résumé Preparation
No formula exists for the preparation of an effective résumé;
however, a résumé must be presented in a professional manner.
Many candidates are disqualified due to poor résumés.
Limit your résumé to one page. Send a two-page résumé
only if you have enough material to fill three pages; then use the most
valid information to prepare an impressive two-page presentation.
Use a format that highlights how your experiences will contribute to the
company's needs. Underline or italicize items if appropriate. Remember,
résumés are usually skimmed very quickly; some companies use
scanners to check for key words related to education and technical expertise.
Traditionally, résumés have been mailed or
hand delivered. When presenting a résumé in person, you have
an opportunity to observe the company environment and make a positive impression
about your career potential. Electronic résumé delivery may
be done by fax, by e-mail,or
posting on websites such as www.monster.com
and www.careermosaic.com
Your résumé must be targeted to a specific organization
and job. A cover letter is designed to express your interest in a job and
help you obtain an interview.
The introductory paragraph should get the reader's attention.
The development section should highlight the aspects of your background
that specifically qualify you for the job.
The concluding paragraph should request action from the employer. Ask
for the opportunity to discuss your qualifications and potential with
the employer in more detail; in other words, get an interview!
As you get ready for the interview, keep in mind that proper dress and
grooming are important.
Confirm the time and location of the interview. Take copies of your résumé,
your reference list, and a small notebook for writing down ideas during
the interview. Plan to arrive about 10 minutes earlier than your appointed
time.
The Interview Process
A screening interview is an initial, usually brief meeting with applicants
that reduces the pool of job candidates. In the screening interview, interviewees
are processed on the basis of overall impression and a few general questions.
Organizations are expanding the use of online screening interviews in which
applicants provide basic personal and background information. In addition,
these "e-interviews" may ask you to respond to questions such as
"Would you rather have structure or flexibility in your work?" and
"What approach do you use to solve difficult problems?"
Once you are judged to be a strong candidate for a job, your next interview
can last from one hour to several days. The selection interview, which is
reserved for the finalists in the job search, may involve a series of activities,
including responses to questions, meetings with several people on the staff,
and a seminar presentation.
Interviews may include situations or questions to determine how you react
under pressure. Remain calm. Answer clearly in a controlled manner.
An interviewer cannot ask:
where you were born
your age.
if you have any disabilities.
about marital status, religion, or responsibility for children.
However, an interviewer can ask:
if you are a U.S. citizen.
you to prove you are over 18.
if you have the physical ability to perform the job for which you have
applied.
if there are any days or times when you can't work.
The use of behavioral interviewing is expanding to better evaluate an applicant's
on-the-job potential. In these situations, prospective employees are asked
about how they might handle various work situations. Behavioral interview
questions typically begin with "describe" or "tell me about
. . . " to encourage interviewees to better explain their work style.
Most interviewers conclude the selection interview by telling you when you
can expect to hear from the company. While waiting, consider doing two things.
First, send a follow-up letter within a day or two expressing your appreciation
for the opportunity to interview. If you don't get the job, this thank-you
letter can make a positive impression that improves your chances for future
consideration.
