Section 5.2 Your Plan of Action Back to Table of Contents

Section 5.2Section 5.2Your Plan of ActionYour Plan of Action

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Chapter 5 • Developing an Individual Career Plan Succeeding in the World of Work

Your Plan of ActionYour Plan of Action5.2

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

How to establish an individual How to establish an individual career plan and set intermediate career plan and set intermediate career goalscareer goals

How to determine the education How to determine the education and training you will needand training you will need



Planning a course of action early Planning a course of action early is essential in achieving your is essential in achieving your career goals.career goals.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT



individual career planindividual career planon-the-job trainingon-the-job trainingapprenticeapprenticevocational-technical centervocational-technical centertrade schooltrade schoolcontinuing educationcontinuing education

KEY TERMS



An An individual career planindividual career plan is a plan for a is a plan for a course of action that will make your course of action that will make your career goals a reality.career goals a reality.

Your Plan of ActionYour Plan of ActionYour Plan of ActionYour Plan of Action



To reach your ultimate career goal, you To reach your ultimate career goal, you will first need to establish some will first need to establish some intermediate planning goals.intermediate planning goals.

Intermediate planning goals are the Intermediate planning goals are the steps you will take to get from where you steps you will take to get from where you are to where you want to be.are to where you want to be.




Intermediate planning goals are Intermediate planning goals are important because they allow you to important because they allow you to break your career plan into manageable break your career plan into manageable steps.steps.

Intermediate planning goals help you Intermediate planning goals help you feel confident and focused.feel confident and focused.




The more specific your intermediate The more specific your intermediate career targets are, the more likely you career targets are, the more likely you are to hit the bull’s-eye.are to hit the bull’s-eye.

Vague intermediate goals will not help Vague intermediate goals will not help you gain relevant experience.you gain relevant experience.

Taking AimTaking AimTaking AimTaking Aim



If your intermediate goal is to be a If your intermediate goal is to be a medical technician, don’t be vague by medical technician, don’t be vague by saying:saying:

““My intermediate goal is to work in a My intermediate goal is to work in a hospitalhospital.”.”


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Be specific:Be specific:

““My intermediate goal is to enroll in a My intermediate goal is to enroll in a program that will train me to be an program that will train me to be an emergency room technicianemergency room technician.”.”




Besides being Besides being specificspecific, your planning , your planning goals should be goals should be realisticrealistic..

To plan realistic goals for the future, you To plan realistic goals for the future, you must think about who and where you are must think about who and where you are today.today.

With Your Feet on the GroundWith Your Feet on the GroundWith Your Feet on the GroundWith Your Feet on the Ground



Since you will be developing your career Since you will be developing your career in the years to come, do not limit in the years to come, do not limit yourself to the current reality of the yourself to the current reality of the world.world.

You may end up starting a trendsetting You may end up starting a trendsetting business.business.

With Your Feet on the GroundWith Your Feet on the GroundWith Your Feet on the GroundWith Your Feet on the Ground



Stepping-stone goals are Stepping-stone goals are short-short-, , medium-, and medium-, and long-termlong-term planning goals planning goals that help you reach your ultimate career that help you reach your ultimate career goal in realistic stages.goal in realistic stages.

Stepping-Stone GoalsStepping-Stone GoalsStepping-Stone GoalsStepping-Stone Goals



A person who has the ultimate career A person who has the ultimate career goal of becoming a chef might have a goal of becoming a chef might have a short-term goal of gaining practical short-term goal of gaining practical experience as a waiter and a medium-experience as a waiter and a medium-term goal of getting a degree from a term goal of getting a degree from a culinary institute.culinary institute.




Having stepping-stone goals allows you Having stepping-stone goals allows you to make a to make a “course correction”“course correction” if you if you decide your ultimate goal is not right for decide your ultimate goal is not right for you.you.



Your Plan of ActionYour Plan of Action5.2 Graphic OrganizerGraphic Organizer5.2



ULTIMATE GOALULTIMATE GOAL

Long-TermLong-TermGoalsGoals

Medium-TermMedium-TermGoalsGoals

Short-TermShort-TermGoalsGoals



One of your first stepping-stone goals One of your first stepping-stone goals should be to get the education and should be to get the education and training you will need to achieve your training you will need to achieve your ultimate career goal.ultimate career goal.

Deciding on Education and TrainingDeciding on Education and TrainingDeciding on Education and TrainingDeciding on Education and Training



Workers who have more than a high Workers who have more than a high school diploma are generally better school diploma are generally better prepared for their jobs than those who prepared for their jobs than those who do not.do not.




Many options are available for getting Many options are available for getting the education and training you will need, the education and training you will need, including:including:


online learningonline learning,,apprenticeshipsapprenticeships, and, andformal schoolingformal schooling..



Many people enroll in online courses, Many people enroll in online courses, which allow them to work when and which allow them to work when and where they want to and at their own where they want to and at their own pace.pace.

Online LearningOnline LearningOnline LearningOnline Learning



Online learning is typically less Online learning is typically less expensive than traditional education expensive than traditional education programs.programs.

Online LearningOnline LearningOnline LearningOnline Learning



On-the-job trainingOn-the-job training is on-site instruction is on-site instruction in how to perform a in how to perform a particular job.particular job.

On-the-Job-Training:On-the-Job-Training:Learning by DoingLearning by Doing




Because they need to be on the cutting Because they need to be on the cutting edge of new trends, many large edge of new trends, many large companies provide ongoing training for companies provide ongoing training for their employees.their employees.





An An apprenticeapprentice is someone who learns is someone who learns how to do a job through hands-on how to do a job through hands-on experience under the guidance of a experience under the guidance of a skilled worker.skilled worker.

ApprenticeshipsApprenticeshipsApprenticeshipsApprenticeships



Apprenticeships are still a common way Apprenticeships are still a common way for unions to train skilled workers, for unions to train skilled workers, especially in especially in constructionconstruction and and manufacturingmanufacturing..

ApprenticeshipsApprenticeshipsApprenticeshipsApprenticeships



A A vocational-technical centervocational-technical center is a is a school that offers skills-oriented school that offers skills-oriented programs, such as courses in auto programs, such as courses in auto repair or computer programming.repair or computer programming.

Most of these schools have evening Most of these schools have evening classes and are relatively inexpensive.classes and are relatively inexpensive.

Vocational-Technical CentersVocational-Technical CentersVocational-Technical CentersVocational-Technical Centers



Community colleges and technical Community colleges and technical colleges offer two-year and certificate colleges offer two-year and certificate programs in many occupational areas, programs in many occupational areas, such as:such as:

Community and Technical CollegesCommunity and Technical CollegesCommunity and Technical CollegesCommunity and Technical Colleges

accountingaccounting,,tourism managementtourism management,,

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paralegal workparalegal work,,retailingretailing, and, anddesktop publishingdesktop publishing..



These colleges usually offer night and These colleges usually offer night and weekend classes.weekend classes.

They are less expensive than trade They are less expensive than trade schools and four-year colleges.schools and four-year colleges.




A graduate with a two-year associate A graduate with a two-year associate degree from a community or technical degree from a community or technical college can usually transfer his or her college can usually transfer his or her credits to a four-year college or credits to a four-year college or university.university.




Some careersSome careers—such as teacher and —such as teacher and physical therapist—require a minimum physical therapist—require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a four-year of a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university.college or university.

Four-Year Colleges and UniversitiesFour-Year Colleges and UniversitiesFour-Year Colleges and UniversitiesFour-Year Colleges and Universities



Other careersOther careers—such as many in law, —such as many in law, architecture, and medicine—require a architecture, and medicine—require a more advanced degree.more advanced degree.




Factors you should consider when Factors you should consider when choosing a college are:choosing a college are:


locationlocation,,cost,cost,program qualityprogram quality,,entrance requirements, andentrance requirements, andfinancial aidfinancial aid..



Continuing educationContinuing education programs are programs are offered by many high schools, colleges, offered by many high schools, colleges, and universities.and universities.

These programs are geared toward These programs are geared toward adults.adults.

Continuing EducationContinuing EducationContinuing EducationContinuing Education



In the military, you can receive training In the military, you can receive training in one of more than 200 different in one of more than 200 different occupations. occupations.

Military ServiceMilitary ServiceMilitary ServiceMilitary Service



You can attend school before or during You can attend school before or during your service.your service.

The military sometimes pays for your The military sometimes pays for your education after you serve.education after you serve.

Military ServiceMilitary ServiceMilitary ServiceMilitary Service



Talk to people in your field of interest Talk to people in your field of interest about their career choices.about their career choices.Avoid limiting yourself to a particular Avoid limiting yourself to a particular field before you have explored many field before you have explored many options.options.

CAREER CHECKLISTCAREER CHECKLISTWhen Choosing a Career…When Choosing a Career…

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Apply for an internship or part-time job Apply for an internship or part-time job in a field that interests you to gain in a field that interests you to gain firsthand experience.firsthand experience.Volunteer at an organization that Volunteer at an organization that interests you to develop job skills.interests you to develop job skills.


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Set realistic goals regarding how you Set realistic goals regarding how you will obtain a job in the career of your will obtain a job in the career of your choice.choice.Participate in classes or school activities Participate in classes or school activities that will help you advance in the career that will help you advance in the career of your choice.of your choice.


continued



Don’t settle for a job that will not help Don’t settle for a job that will not help you advance on your chosen career you advance on your chosen career path.path.




If you are feeling overwhelmed by your If you are feeling overwhelmed by your career options, formulate your career career options, formulate your career plan on paper.plan on paper.

Committing Yourself on PaperCommitting Yourself on PaperCommitting Yourself on PaperCommitting Yourself on Paper



Begin by asking yourself these Begin by asking yourself these questions:questions:

Questions and AnswersQuestions and AnswersQuestions and AnswersQuestions and Answers

What is my ultimate career goal?What is my ultimate career goal?What is my first “stepping-stone” or What is my first “stepping-stone” or short-term goal?short-term goal?

continued



Questions and AnswersQuestions and AnswersQuestions and AnswersQuestions and Answers

Which educational programs offer the Which educational programs offer the training I need?training I need?How much money will I need to pay How much money will I need to pay for my education and training? Where for my education and training? Where will this money come from?will this money come from?



Write your short-, medium-, and long-Write your short-, medium-, and long-term goals in chronological order.term goals in chronological order.

Make sure to include the projected Make sure to include the projected starting and ending dates for each goal.starting and ending dates for each goal.

Where Do You Go From Here?Where Do You Go From Here?Where Do You Go From Here?Where Do You Go From Here?



You can modify the goals and dates as You can modify the goals and dates as you get closer to your ultimate goal.you get closer to your ultimate goal.

Your decisions and plans are flexible.Your decisions and plans are flexible.

Where Do You Go From Here?Where Do You Go From Here?Where Do You Go From Here?Where Do You Go From Here?



Key Concept CheckpointKey Concept CheckpointComprehensionComprehension

1.1. Explain why having “stepping-stone” Explain why having “stepping-stone” planning goals is important for planning goals is important for reaching your ultimate career goal.reaching your ultimate career goal.

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SECTION 5.2 REVIEWSECTION 5.2 REVIEW




2.2. Suppose that you have a friend who Suppose that you have a friend who wants to be a fashion designer. How wants to be a fashion designer. How would you advise your friend to would you advise your friend to explore education or training options?explore education or training options?

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3.3. What is the advantage of committing What is the advantage of committing your career plans to writing?your career plans to writing?

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Key Concept CheckpointKey Concept CheckpointCritical ThinkingCritical Thinking

4.4. How often should you review your How often should you review your individual career plan and the goals individual career plan and the goals that you have established? Why?that you have established? Why?


End of Section 5.2End of Section 5.2Your Plan of ActionYour Plan of Action

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