Positioning Yourself for a Career Change: Thinking About Your Professional Identity

Lorina Karreci, BA CEW Masters Level Social Work Intern

Doreen Murasky, LMSW, ACSWSenior Manager for Student Programs

Agenda

❖ Introductions

❖ Self Assessment

❖ World of Work

❖ Resources

IntroductionsWho is in the room?

Please break into pairs, and take turns introducing yourself to the person next to you using the following information:

1. Name2. What city/state you are from3. One interesting fact about yourself

You may be asked to introduce your partner to the rest of the group!

OverviewTwo major components:

Self-Assessment

+ World of Work

________________

Desired Career

Self-Assessment: What to consider

Values

Skills

Interests

Identity

Lifestyle/Personal needs

Field/Settings

Self-Assessment: Values

There are two main types of values:

❖ Core

❖ Situational

Core Values

❖ Most important to you

❖ Influence your life choices

❖ Remain constant throughout your life

Situational Values

❖ Reflect priorities

❖ Preferences❖ Fluctuate over time with the family life cycle,

changing interests, etc.

Values Assessment Activity

Self-Assessment: Skills

There are two main types of skills:

❖ Hard Skills

❖ Soft Skills

Hard Skills

❖ Teachable, easy to quantify❖ Easy to recognize❖ Often seen as “qualifications”

Examples: A degree, computer programming, proficiency in foreign language, etc.

Soft Skills

❖ How you relate to others

❖ Acquired through experience rather than formal training

❖ Highly transferrable

Examples: Teamwork, communication, patience, etc.

Achievements Activity

Self - Assessment: Interests

Interests Questionnaire

Self-Assessment: Other Considerations

Identity

Lifestyle/Personal Needs

Field/Settings

These are all important factors to take into consideration during the self-assessment process.

The World of Work: Moving Toward Specificity❖ Explore the targets

▪ What do you want to know? ▪ How can you find out?

❖ Explore the fit▪ Their requirements▪ Your requirements

❖ Identify the path forward▪ Timing▪ Preparation▪ Incremental steps

The World of Work: Attaining Information

❖ Learn about current employment and career opportunities

❖ Read: local newspapers, business journals, newsletters, trade/professional journals, books/publications related to your area of interest

❖ Conduct online research about areas of interest, specific companies/organizations, and/or people who inspire you

The World of Work: Networking❖Connect with people to learn helpful information and

expand contacts

❖Utilize the web to gather information and make contacts

❖Conduct Informational Interviews

❖Attend membership meetings/conferences

❖Develop immersion opportunities – volunteer, observe, job shadow, intern/apprentice

Next StepThink of one thing you can do in the next week toward positioning yourself for a career change.

Examples:

Complete the Skill Assessment Worksheet to clarify transferrable skills.

Find one job description that is of interest and bring it with you to Part 2.

The Center for the Education of Women would like to thank TIAA CREF for their support in our programming.